Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue recently said that the discussion surrounding the proposed construction of a new municipal services center off Estes Drive is moving along “really nicely.”
According to Blue, construction on the joint venture on land owned by UNC could begin sooner than expected.
“The conversation has been moving along really nicely, and we’re excited,” said Blue. “If things go well, maybe this time a year from now we’ll actually be turning some shovels over.”
While many Town of Chapel Hill departments are in need of new facilities, it is not yet clear how many of them will be able to move into the new center.
Among the possible departments listed by Blue were fire administration, parks and recreation, and the town’s technology services.
The department that is likely most in need of a new home is the Chapel Hill Police, who’s current headquarters are in very poor condition.
“We’re glad to have a roof and walls, so we’re not complaining, but I will say that we’ve outgrown the space,” said Blue.
Blue also says the town and the university have received great engagement from the neighborhoods surrounding the land where the proposed center would be constructed.
In a recent development, the town and UNC are exploring a possible land swap which could result in the town receiving the approximately 21-acre site on Estes Drive.
This article would have benefited with inclusion of a statement from a resident who lives in the boardering neighborhood (Elkin Hills). Lacking this information the article is one sided representing this project in only a positive light and any perspective on the many issues with this site. The neighborhood has been extensively engaged because there is an overwhelming resistance for the town to build anything on this piece of land. This small wooded area provides a small barrier for our community to Estes drive, already creates issue of flooding for residents. and has been a beautiful part of this historic neighbor hood, This natural area was what drew many residents to move to this location. The town and universities proposal to cut down these trees and build up this parcel of land would dramatically change the neighborhood for the worse by creating an eye sore, generating more traffic noise, exacerbating an already unmet flood water issue, etc. These are just a handful of valid reason why this project should never have been proposed in addition to no agreement with the neighbors that it should happen. The town has ignored the requests to not build here and a survey that indicated this was the least suitable parcel to develop of the sites they looked at. If you look at the map in the article the land across the street next to the airport (which is closing and already paved…can’t this be re-purposed?) and parking lot is apart of the same portion that UNC is letting the town develop yet they are not building there instead choosing the small space right next to a residential neighborhood. It makes no sense to me why this plot was even considered fort this project and it’s a shame tax dollar will fund such a poorly thought out and inconsiderate project.
Please strive to present news with a well rounded picture by doing the necessary research on what you are reporting on. Without it you present misleading and incomplete information. If you reached out to anyone who lives nearby we would have happily provided a statement.