Minutes - 20040929 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

contrary to the headlines in the News and Observer today, it is not fast-tracked, but it is following the normal pace. Nick Didow made reference to the one-page handout, which was an overview of the corporation. The mission is "to bring the resources of the Town, University, and downtown community together to maintain, enhance, and promote downtown as the social, cultural, and spiritual center of Chapel Hill through economic development." The corporation is governed by seven board members. The Town of Chapel Hill appointees are Robert Epting, Allen Fine, Tom Tucker, and Andrea Rohrbacher. The University of North Carolina appointees are Vice Chancellor Nancy Suttenfield and Trustee Roger Perry. This group chose a seventh board appointee, which is Betty Kenan. Nick Didow said that he was selected as the Interim Executive Director in mid-August. He will help get the corporation going and help in the search process for a permanent Executive Director. Nick Didow made the following points: - The board meets the second and fourth Wednesday morning of each month from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. - The funding istwo-thirds from the Town of Chapel Hill and one-third from UNC. - They have to work collaboratively with other local, county, regional, and state economic development groups and downtown Chapel Hill stakeholders. - CHDEDC is a private 501 (c} 3 corporation that has chosen to operate in accordance with the North Carolina Open Meetings Law. - Major current CHDEDC activities include: o Managing the transition of critical downtown services and activities with assistance from several partner organizations; o Start-up matters including filing for 501 (c) 3 federal designation, opening a CHDEDC corporate office in downtown, establishing telecommunications and Internet support services, bank accounts, etc.; o Board discussion of CHDEDC goals, short term objectives, long term objectives and downtown economic development strategies; o Review recent recommendations for improving downtown; o Briefings on UNC, Town, and private economic development projects at various stages of planning and implementation that will significantly impact downtown; o Establishing a positive board culture in process and conduct to be an effective organization and change agent for downtown Chapel Hill; and o Development of an Executive Director job description and strategy to recruit a permanent, full-time Executive Director. The office of the CHDEDC will be 308 West Rosemary Street, Suite 202. The next meeting is Wednesday, October 13th, at the Chapel Hill Museum -Public Meeting Room starting at 7:30 a.m. He invited everyone to attend. Jacqueline Gist said that they were glad to have Nick Didow in this role. She said that Carrboro was undergoing their own second renaissance in Carrboro, and one of the biggest things is the renovation of the ArtsCenter/Cat's Cradle property. She said that even though they are very distinct political entities, they are one community and their downtowns flow into each other. She suggested that they have a meeting twice a year with the CHDEDC and the complementary counterparts in Carrboro.