As redevelopment around University Place continues in Chapel Hill, the mall’s ownership is partnering with the local government to hire an artist for a large-scale mural on the site.
A release from the Town of Chapel Hill on November 8 said its Community Arts & Culture department is hiring for the design and installation of a mural on the exterior of the parking deck for the 900 Willow Drive apartment community. The local government is seeking “an experienced North Carolina-based artist or artist team” to do the project and will supply them an all-inclusive $30,000 stipend for the project.
The 900 Willow complex is one of the most visual changes in the current stage of University Place’s redevelopment, which mall ownership — Ram Realty — began in 2020. The 253-unit community is being constructed on the mall property facing Willow Drive and by Silverspot Theater. The parking deck, which is largely completed, will face outward to a street running east-west between each side of the mall property — and that’s where the 47-foot by 150-foot mural will go.
“This parking deck mural is an exciting opportunity to bring some high-impact public art to Chapel Hill through a public/private partnership with Ram Realty,” Steve Wright, the public art coordinator for Chapel Hill, said in the town’s release about the project. “We look forward to an artist starting their creative process this spring and completing the work by August of 2024.”
The deadline for applicants to submit their portfolio of mural work and ideas for the the theme, appearance, and subject matter of the University Place mural design is Friday, November 17 at 5 p.m. A full list of application requirements and eligibility guidelines on the Community Arts & Culture website.
The mall and town’s team will contact a small number of finalists to submit proposals based upon the artistic excellence of their work and large-scale, two-dimensional mural experience, with each finalist receiving a $500 proposal stipend.
900 Willow is just one element of University Place’s extensive redevelopment. After demolishing part of the southern wing of the existing mall building, which included the former Southern Season space, contractors are laying the groundwork to eventually build several new retail spaces in that building and multiple other free-standing buildings for businesses.
Construction on the apartment complex began in late 2022. In addition to its multi-family units and parking deck, the five- to six-story 900 Willow complex will have a leasing plaza, an outdoor pool and patio for residents, and incubator retail space open to the public.
The master plan for University Place’s redevelopment and tenants, as of November 2023. (Photo via RAM REALTY / Specialty Retail Consultants.)
More information about University Place’s ongoing redevelopment can be found at Ram Realty’s vision website for the property.
Featured photo via the Town of Chapel Hill / Ram Realty.
Editor’s Note: Chapel Hill Media Group is currently a tenant of University Place, having first moved there in 2016.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines