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 2008.

“From 1969 until the downturn in 2008,” Bassett said, “we were building about 75,000 to 100,000 square-feet-a-year in office space. The downturn came, and we got out of it in 2010. If you look at our office absorption rate from 2010 until Carolina Square and the Station at East 54 were developed, was zero or negative. We essentially lost all momentum in our office market.”

Bassett said this slow period caused Chapel Hill to work twice as hard as it had historically. Cities like Durham and Raleigh continued to see steady growth, while nearby areas like Chatham County and Alamance County underwent development. Bassett said Chapel Hill must find ways to stand out to potential residents.

“They’ve got to have a connection,” he said. “Maybe they went to school here; maybe they prefer our quality of life; they like our school system or our transit. Something about Chapel Hill has to be an edge to seal the deal.”

The town is taking steps to improve its availability for office spaces. Upcoming mixed-use projects like Carraway Village and Glen Lennox plan to incorporate office space to join the existing new option of Carolina Square. The town council also recently passed a zoning amendment for the Blue Hill district to incentivize more commercial space within the area.

Bassett said the town has seen results thanks to those efforts.

“In the last 12 months, it’s been double what it was the two previous years,” he said. “We’re seeing us return to that point; we’re seeing those inquiries and interest. We’ve got quite a few partnerships we’re hoping to announce in the next few months that we hope will keep building that momentum.”

 

Photo via Carolina Square

Related Stories
‹
Major Developments Moving Along in Chapel Hill
Several major development projects are underway in Chapel Hill, with some closer to completion than others. Town staff provided an update to the Orange County Board of Commissioners at a recent meeting. Carraway Village, Glen Lennox and Blue Hill District mixed-use spaces are all underway – the furthest along of which being Caraway Village – […]
Chapel Hill Council Approves 300+ New Apartments, Retail Space on S. Elliott Road
The Chapel Hill Town Council approved a conditional zoning request for 200 South Elliott Road, paving the way for a new apartment community.
UNC Ice Hockey Club Plans $25 Million Fundraising Campaign for Arena Project in Chapel Hill
After making a splash with plans to build a rink and arena in Chapel Hill, the UNC Ice Hockey Club is about to begin its public fundraising.
Road Work Underway on Fordham Boulevard for Glen Lennox Apartments
Road work is underway at the Glen Lennox Redevelopment Project and contractors will be working along U.S. Highway 15-501 in the coming days. The work along Fordham Boulevard is expected to last a couple of days, according to a release from the Town of Chapel Hill. Work will include the removal of trees at the […]
Lane Closures, Reduction Expected Along Fordham Boulevard in Chapel Hill
Motorists using U.S. 15-501 and Fordham Boulevard in Chapel Hill will begin to see some lane closures for the next few mornings.
Carraway Village Developers Look to Add Gas Station, Climate-Controlled Storage to Site
The Carraway Village mixed-use development project recently came before the Chapel Hill Town Council again as developers gauged the council’s thoughts on the addition a gas station and climate-controlled storage to the site. The development, which is largely based around existing luxury apartment buildings, sits on a high-traffic area of Chapel Hill. The property sits […]
Construction on Fordham Boulevard for Glen Lennox Access to Begin Soon
Contractors working on the redevelopment of Glen Lennox apartments will soon be working along Fordham Boulevard to improve access into the complex. According to a release published by the Town of Chapel Hill on Tuesday, motorists will see an increase in work along Highway 15-501 near Glen Lennox beginning early in February, as contractors remove […]
Donna Bell Reflects on 10-Year Chapel Hill Town Council Tenure
Chapel Hill Town Council member Donna Bell says she’s always measured her tenure with the council by her daughter’s age. “She turned one in November 2009, and I was sworn in in December,” said Bell. “[This year], she turns 11 years old on November 22, and by then I’ll be on my way to being […]
Chapel Hill Considering Fordham Blvd. Greenway, Neighbors Advocate for Shared Street
Tab Combs stands at the entrance of her neighborhood, Little Ridgefield. The Hickory Road resident points out how an existing path from Cleland Drive down the street would connect with a new side path proposed by the Town of Chapel Hill. “We’re about 20 feet from the outside edge of Fordham Boulevard, and we’re standing […]
Chapel Hill Town Council Reviews Putt-Putt Center Concept Plans
Developers presented updated concept plans for a putt-putt and go-kart facility off Eubanks Road to the Chapel Hill Town Council last week. The Putt-Putt Fun Center facility would neighbor the Carraway Village apartment complex and be constructed in an undeveloped parcel of land near Interstate 40. The family-friendly center would feature a putt-putt course, go-kart […]
›