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~o <br />Workgroup on Quality of Place <br />Overall Strategy: By June 2010, Orange County will have thriving partnerships <br />among government, business, the not-for-profit sector, UNC and congregations <br />ensuring that the county is a great place in which to live and work, attracting <br />and retaining the "creative community" of innovators, artists and civic leaders <br />that will drive the desired economy. <br />Why the strategy is critical: Stated simply, place matters. As Mary .1o Waits <br />pointed out in her presentation at the 2004 Economic Development Summit: <br />• The natural environment is important <br />• But natural features aren't enough -urban amenities are required as well <br />• Lifestyle choice matters <br />• Being a smart, innovative place matters <br />• Intangibles such as "hipness," tolerance, entrepreneurial culture are part of the <br />calculation <br />"The creative heart and soul of the economy will continue to be tied to place" <br />A) Enhance urban character by connecting and supporting existing plans for <br />increasing the commercial tax base and for revitalizing the downtown areas <br />of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough <br />Activities m e undenvgy in each of the towns. In Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill <br />Downtown Parhrership has beery established acrd is working to revitalize FranTdin <br />Sheet, utilizing tTre Main Street approach KidZu children's rmaseurrr has opened <br />in the 100 block of F~°mddin, and they°e is a renewed connnitnrent to work on <br />parking issues. The town and Ram Development are preparing to redevelop <br />ParlcingLots l and .5 as mixed-use projects witTr large public cwnponents. <br />br Car°rboro, private developers have proposed a major redevelopment pr°oject to <br />house the Ar°tsCenter° acrd the Cat's Cradle, along with retail and residential ur:its <br />and a hotel, Another° mixed-rrse redevelopment project is pr°oposed for South <br />Gr°eerrsboro Str°eet. <br />In Hillsborough, the Gateway project envisions amixed-use development <br />anchored by Weaver Str°eet Market. The town's Churtorr Street corridor planning <br />is nem~ing completion, and the town just received a $500, 000 grant for its <br />RiverWalk pr°oject, which will connect downtown with West Hillsborough. <br />B) Enhance rural character by supporting local agriculture through efforts <br />such as malting farming more profitable by encouraging local marltets and <br />supporting complementary conservation and management tools <br />Numerous activities are underrvgy relating to agricultural diversiftcatiorr, <br />including the county's efforts to revise zoning regulations to promote value-added <br />agr icultur°al businesses mrd the ezparrsiorr of, fm mess markets (including a new <br />