Orange County NC Website
<br /> Chair Carey reported that there was a County listening session at Pleasant Green <br />Community Center recently. There was a small group in attendance. The County <br />Commissioners will receive a copy of the summary of the meeting, along with the list of <br />attendees. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis said that he appreciates Chair Carey informing attendees of the <br />listening sessions since all County Commissioners cannot attend these, because it would be <br />considered an official meeting. The whole point of the listening sessions was to be informal. <br /> <br /> <br />4. County Manager’s Report <br />John Link said that Commissioner Jacobs was making reference to anniversaries, so he <br />wanted to mention that last week was the 60th anniversary of the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. <br />He said that regardless of one’s opinion of the politics, he thinks FDR was a person of great <br />leadership and vision for this country. <br />John Link recognized Economic Development Director Dianne Reid. <br />Dianne Reid spoke about some of the economic development issues within the County. <br />She said that most of the updates are in her monthly reports to the Economic Development <br />Commission. There have been a few layoffs – GE is eliminating another 54 jobs, due to off- <br />shoring, which brings their workforce down to 450; and UNC Healthcare has announced the <br />elimination of 200 jobs (160 of those are currently vacant positions that will not be filled). There <br />was a big bulge in retail sales due to the UNC Basketball championship. <br />In Carrboro, at the corner of Rosemary Street and East Main Street, is a new coffee, tea, <br />and treats shop. Main Street Properties is also looking at redeveloping the entire block that <br />includes Performance Bicycle, the ArtsCenter, and the Cat’s Cradle. The mixed-use project <br />would include a good bit of open space, a parking deck, and a retail area. A third Maple View <br />Ice Cream store is opening across from Weaver Street Market at the former TV repair shop. A <br />new Harris Teeter will also be developed on Jones Ferry Road, and the other store will be <br />maintained. The Trading Post on S. Greensboro Street will be redeveloped also. <br />In Chapel Hill, at Eastgate Shopping Center, there is considerable change. The former <br />Amoco station will be a coffee shop. The Earthware shop, which is a natural food store, will be <br />moving into the building formerly occupied by Southern Season. Great Outdoor Provision has <br />moved in next to Talbot’s. Just last week, on 15/501 at Erwin and Sage Roads, the Chapel Hill <br />Town Council approved development of 21 acres of a mixed-use project that would include <br />homes, retail, and office. The hotel construction at the former Trailways bus station is underway. <br />Rugby, which is a new division of Polo Ralph Lauren, has opened the second store in the <br />country on Franklin Street. There is also a new restaurant coming in at Franklin and Columbia <br />Streets. <br />In Hillsborough, a Home Depot will be coming in at Hampton Pointe. This will be <br />102,000 square feet with another 28,000 for a garden center. There will be other small retail <br />with about 54,000 square feet. There is a proposal pending for a Goodwill store that has not <br />been approved yet. At Churton Grove, Vinny’s restaurant has opened and the State <br />Employee’s Credit Union has opened. On S. Churton Street, the expansion of KFC is nearing <br />completion and Wendy’s will also be expanding. On East King Street, the Vintage Reliable is <br />opening and adding a tearoom. She understands that there will be a new restaurant in the <br />James Pharmacy building. Several town boards are looking at a redevelopment for a project <br />called South Churton near the river across from the courthouse, which would include retail and <br />restaurant on the first floor, condo/office on the second floor, and condominium housing on the <br />third floor. Also, in the paper today, there was an article that Waterstone was sold Friday from <br />the Trump Group to Stratford NC, LLC. This is a Dallas-based company, and this will be their <br />second project in North Carolina.