Residents of Carrboro love it for its “funkiness,” – its great offerings in the arts, music, and food.

Town leaders and developers continue to struggle with striking the right balance between the familiar feel of Carrboro with the desire for a broader commercial base.

That was the subject of a WCHL Community Forum discussion last Thursday.

Carrboro Alderperson Bethany Chaney noted that the recession was a factor that slowed the pace of Carrboro development between 2008 and 2012.

Some projects that were in the pipeline just fell by the wayside, or changed hands.

“And then we have a couple that are moving forward,” said Chaney. “So, Shelton Station is one project that was really approved after the 2008 crash, but has been slow to get online for all sorts of reasons, including economic ones. But we’re expecting to see Shelton Station break ground sometime this year.”

That mixed-use development at 500 North Greensboro Street was approved in 2012.

One project that didn’t end with town approval was a plan to build an Arts & Innovation Center to house the ArtsCenter and Kidzu Children’s Museum near Armadillo Grill. The proposal included a second hotel at 300 East Main.

It was voted down by the Board of Aldermen in February, but not killed entirely. Chaney advised the project to “reset,” and try again, with a plan that didn’t include funding from hotel revenue.

Phil Szostak, an architect involved with the Arts & Innovation Center project, and an ArtsCenter board member, said the advice has been heeded.

“Now there are several working groups meeting – including the county this time, and staff from both the county and the town are meeting together,” said Szostak.

Right now, said Szostak, they’re exploring the idea of the ArtsCenter sharing space with both Kidzu and the proposed southern branch library.

Whatever is decided, Szostak said he’s confident that the public will feel more of a stake in it.

Jackie Helvey, a local activist who runs the website carrboro.com, said that citizens who spoke out against the last proposal did so because they felt like it has been sprung on them.

“I think you’re doing it the right way now, by going through the process” said Helvey. “it’s not that we don’t want a new ArtsCenter – we do. You know, we just want to know everything before it happens.”

Helvey praised Chaney and other members of the Board of Aldermen for not moving too quickly on development proposals.

Chaney said she’s glad the ArtsCenter-related project is still alive – particularly, for the potential of Kidzu coming to town.

“Our children don’t have a lot to do in downtown,” said Chaney, “and Kidzu certainly would bring some daytime traffic, while the ArtsCenter would appeal to nighttime traffic, as well as daytime learners.”

Aaron Nelson, president and CEO of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, said he worries that Carrboro moves too slow in its development process, because it’s more reactive than pro-active in its current state.

“Part of what I’m hopeful for in Carrboro is that it does a little more pre-planning — form-based code, other things where you say out loud, first what you want,” said Nelson. “And I think we’ll not get what we want in Carrboro if we wait for the developer to propose it.”