Chapel Hill Town Council is moving forward with plans for the proposed Rosemary Columbia Hotel. This week the town voted to pass site changes to the plans for the hotel, which reduce the size of the building, remove surface parking and create separation between the hotel and the Northside neighborhood.

The proposed extended-stay hotel at the intersection of Rosemary Street and Columbia Street would provide about 130 hotel rooms to downtown Chapel Hill. It includes a rooftop bar, a pocket park and other amenities.

The 1.31-acre site for the Rosemary-Columbia Hotel along North Columbia Street. (Photo via MHA Works)

Last week, Chapel Hill Town Council heard from developers about changes made to the site following feedback about original site plans. On Wednesday, Council approved a conditional zoning application for the hotel.

Feedback from a June town council meeting said the site plans made the hotel too suburban because it included too much driveway space and was located too close to the entrance to the Northside neighborhood. Urban designers have since worked with developers to incorporate town feedback.

One of the developers of the hotel, Dan Jewell, told Town Council he is excited about these changes because of what the project means for downtown Chapel Hill.

“We think what we are doing is now complimentary to those East Rosemary projects,” Jewell said. “Perhaps it is needed even more with the infusion of people we see added to the neighborhood making it much more lively, vibrant and cosmopolitan.”

Jewell said he believes the hotel fits in with the ongoing East Rosemary Redevelopment project in Chapel Hill by providing an entryway on one of the town’s primary corners.

Changes made to the site incorporated council recommendations by shrinking the footprint of the building, removing left turns out of the hotel onto Columbia Street and shifting the building east to provide more separation between the nearby residential homes.

Plans for the building heights and proposed amenities for the Rosemary-Columbia hotel including a pocket park and rooftop bar. (Photo via MHA Works)

Council Member Allen Buansi said he was happy about the outcome because of how the project has evolved since it was first approved.

“I appreciate the work of the applicants toward making this a better project,” Buansi said. “I want to especially highlight the condition that I believe has been agreed to with respect to employing local residents. I appreciate the applicant making an effort to connect with local groups to make sure residents are aware of and can apply for jobs that will be created through this project.”

Council member Karen Stegman echoed those remarks. She said she believes the new hotel is an exciting project because of the community benefits it provides.

“I think it’s going to be a really inviting place that people want to go to,” Stegman said. “It will bring people to the nice rooftop bar, employing local community members, the trees, the shared parking, it’s really exciting to see some of these things we talk about in action and really come together.”

Chapel Hill Town Council unanimously approved the site changes and approved the conditional zoning application for the Rosemary-Columbia Hotel. Officials agreed the proposed changes aligned with the goals of the Town’s comprehensive plan to provide transit access and incorporate appropriate land uses.

 

Photo via MHAworks, PA and CJT, PA.

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