Members of the American Legion asked the town council Monday to take action to allow the sale of their 36 acre property.

American Legion agreed to sell the property to Woodfield Acquisitions, a Raleigh based developer, last fall for $10 million.

Before agreeing to sell the land to developers, the town was given an opportunity to buy the land for $9 million, which they declined.

Some residents who live nearby have fought against the sale of the property.

Council member George Cianciolo said hopes for a park on the property were unrealistic.

“We all would like more parks, we all would like a lot of things but that doesn’t mean we should get them,” said Cianciolo.

Nick Cervantes, one of the youngest members of the American Legion, said he was surprised by backlash from neighbors.

“To feel like we are being pushed back on is a really hard to hear because we really only have the best interest of Chapel Hillians at heart,” said Cervantes.

The agreement between American Legion and Woodfield Acquisitions is contingent on the property being rezoned. Woodfield Acquisitions is hoping to build 500 apartments, 30 townhomes and 50,000 feet of office space.

The American Legion is selling the property with plans to construct a new facility elsewhere.

Bill Munsee, commander of the American Legion said the current building can’t provide its members with the amenities they need.

“Today’s members want child care, garden space, exercise areas with world class equipment, meeting areas that don’t look like bunkers, gathering halls and a site where they can have large functions like weddings and family reunions,” said Munsee.

Munsee said they would not have the funds for a down payment on a new property, until the current one was sold.

Mayor Pro Tem Donna Bell said delaying the sale was impractical.

“I feel like we are once again slowing down the potential for people to be able to develop in this town,” said Bell.

Woodfield Acquisitions is expected to submit their development plans within the next two months.

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Town Council Rekindles Talk of Legion Road Property's Future
Five Chapel Hill Town Council members recently submitted a petition asking to advance work on the future of the 1714 Legion Road property.
Chapel Hill Selling Obligation Bonds to Fund American Legion Property
The bonds will be used to purchase the American Legion property, instead of building a cultural arts center - but Mayor Pam Hemminger says the cultural arts center will still happen.
Chapel Hill Set to Use Bond Funding for American Legion Payments
The Chapel Hill Town Council appears set to use bonds passed in 2015 to make payments on the American Legion property, which the town voted to purchase in December 2016. The council is set to vote on a resolution at Wednesday night’s meeting to use $4.3 million of the Parks Facilities bond voters approved in […]
Chapel Hill Begins Planning Future of American Legion Property
The future of the American Legion property will come before the Chapel Hill Town Council on Monday night. The town entered into an agreement with the American Legion to purchase the approximately 36-acre property for nearly $8 million in late 2016. Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger said there are already a lot of ideas being […]
On Legion Road, Chapel Hill's Parks Commission Wants A Park
The town will make a decision on the Legion Road property at a later date.
›