Retail Superstore Target Could Come To Chapel Hill

When it comes to the rumors of a Target coming to Chapel Hill, mayor Pam Hemminger can’t say much.

“I can’t confirm or deny the story,” she said. “But I will tell you, wouldn’t it be exciting to have what’s called a Metro Target? I’ve been to a few in other cities.”

If a Target were to move in to Chapel Hill, it would be at Carolina Square, formerly University Square on Franklin Street.

Hemminger said it could take up nearly 16,000 square feet of retail space in the complex, which would be almost all of the retail space available.

“It’s usually a two-level store that provides groceries and other types of things,” she said. “Wouldn’t that be fabulous for our downtown residents that live there in Northside and along Franklin Street and students to be able to have some grocery opportunities there?”

Hemminger said the possibility of a Target has not changed any development plans.

“It’s still going to have the commercial office space,” she said. “Still going to have the residential space. Still going to have the performing arts center. Still going to have the green space. Still going to have 880 parking spaces.”

Construction on the 123 million dollar mixed-use space began in October.

UNC has been a major partner in the project so far, already committing to half of the office space when it is scheduled to open in August 2017.