Brighton McConnell, Author at Chapelboro.com

Chapel Hill Offers Funding for Affordable Housing Projects

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Aug 8, 2018 | Local Government | 0 |

Chapel Hill is continuing a push for affordable housing opportunities by taking applications for project funding from the town’s Affordable Housing Development Reserve. The town wants developers to prioritize four types of projects: land acquisition, rental subsidy and development, home-ownership development and future development planning. There is around $750,000 available in the reserve right now, which is dedicated solely to organizations planning to create or preserve affordable housing units. Chapel Hill’s assistant director of housing and community Sarah Viñas says despite having the “affordable housing” label, these projects shouldn’t scare off developers or house-hunting residents. “Typically when we say...

Chapel Hill Library to Create Outside Working Space

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Aug 7, 2018 | Development | 0 |

Visitors to the Chapel Hill Public Library will likely see some construction being completed over the next few weeks. The library is undergoing renovations to its back terrace. A translucent awning will be installed across most of the concrete area outside of meetings rooms A and B. It will protect new furniture and tables available for patrons to use year-round for work, reading and an event space. Library director Susan Brown says this decision came after a long period of polling visitors. “We started this almost two years ago,” she says. “It’s been a very long process. We queried...

Hillsborough Looking to Fall Discussions for Colonial Inn Restoration

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Aug 6, 2018 | Local Government | 0 |

When a new ownership group purchased the Colonial Inn in January, many Hillsborough residents had questions about what would be done to the property. A public hearing earlier this month helped bring answers. The town board and planning board reviewed the rezoning application and request for a special use permit of the Colonial Inn property. Through those documents, more details surfaced about the 19th-century building’s future. Hillsborough mayor pro tem Jenn Weaver describes how the new owners hope to use the property. “Their proposal with their special use permit,” she says, “is to restore the inn to a functioning...

Community Outreach Helps Orange County Sheriff’s Office Give Back

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Aug 3, 2018 | Local Government | 1 |

Deputies and staff arrived at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning for a different type of work than normal. The office packaged hot dog lunches for delivery to shut-in seniors as a Seniors And Law Enforcement Together, or SALT, event. On the last Monday of every month, they prepare around 100 hot meals to be distributed throughout the county. Major David Caldwell, who overlooks Orange County’s SALT program, said this is just one of many ways the sheriff’s office aids elderly community members. “We’ve put in bath tubs, we’ve supplied fans, we’ve done minor repairs to homes, wheelchair...

Water Damage Closes New Hillsborough Town Annex Building

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Aug 3, 2018 | Local Government | 0 |

The Town of Hillsborough’s Town Annex building is now closed until further notice after being flooded in late July. A hot water pipe burst and caused significant water damage in the newly renovated building, which borders the Town Hall campus. Hillsborough mayor Tom Stevens says it was an installation problem that caused the burst and that the contractor for the building took responsibility. “It steamed carpets and there was an inch of standing water,” Stevens says. “The wallboards are going to have to be replaced and probably some of the fixtures. It was a real mess and setback.” In...

Rep. David Price Pushing Legislation After Border Visit

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Aug 2, 2018 | National | 0 |

Congressman David Price recently proposed a change in immigration policy after visiting locations holding immigrants from the southern border. In a weekend trip late last month to San Antonio and Laredo, the representative for North Carolina’s 4th district visited two Texas facilities holding immigrants. What the Democrat witnessed drove him to propose an amendment to the admittance process. Price recalled the details of his trip in an interview with WCHL’s Aaron Keck. His visit to Laredo, which is located closely to the border, focused on a processing center. Price said his talks with families and individuals informed him of the...

Carrboro Mayor Joins State Commission for Inclusion

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Aug 1, 2018 | State | 0 |

North Carolina’s Department of Administration recently appointed Carrboro mayor Lydia Lavelle to a new commission. She was one of 13 North Carolinians sworn into the Commission on Inclusion. Governor Roy Cooper created the commission with an executive order last year, tasking his Department of Administration to appoint members. The goal is simple: to identify ways to foster diversity and address discrimination that Cooper’s administration can implement through policies. Lavelle talked about the committee in an interview with WCHL’s Aaron Keck, and said it’s honing in on different areas of the state government. “One of the aspects of the executive order...

After Residential Build-out, Chapel Hill Focuses on Office Spaces

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Jul 30, 2018 | Development | 1 |

Chapel Hill offers many elements potential residents find attractive. But available office space has not been one of them. The draw of UNC and proximity to Research Triangle Park has led to developments built around town to accommodate a rising population. But over the last decade, the town struggled to retain and add commercial space so residents can both live and work in the area. Chapel Hill’s Economic Development director Dwight Bassett recently spoke about the town’s current trend of commercial development. He described office space as an oddity among Chapel Hill attractions to business due to the recession in...

UNC Board of Trustees, Chancellor Reaffirm Long-Term Goals

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Jul 26, 2018 | UNC | 0 |

The UNC Board of Trustees reaffirmed their long-term goals for the university at last week’s meeting. At their full board meeting last Thursday, the board announced their election of officers for this year. Chair Haywood Cochrane and vice chair Chuck Duckett were re-elected for their second terms at the same position. Following these announcements, Cochrane took time to establish the board’s goals for the upcoming year and beyond. They include maintaining a beneficial relationship with Chancellor Carol Folt and following the recent strategic plan created for UNC. “We will first and foremost continue to support Carol and her team...

Orange County Towns Promote Local Businesses Despite Surrounding Construction

Posted by Brighton McConnell | Jul 25, 2018 | Development | 0 |

Local businesses throughout Orange County are used to a small decrease in traffic during the summer months. But with some construction projects happening near some local businesses this summer, it can keep additional customers away. Hillsborough is experiencing this due to construction near a handful of local businesses. The town is undergoing major roadwork to improve connections to the Riverwalk greenway and pedestrian access to commercial areas on South Nash Street. Mayor Tom Stevens says between the new crosswalks, sidewalks and curbs being built, the businesses along that stretch can easily get passed over. He encourages residents and visitors...