The East Rosemary Street redevelopment project by Grubb Properties and the Town of Chapel Hill continues construction of the new Rosemary Street parking deck. While phase one of the redevelopment project is happening, designs for phase two – which includes construction of an office and lab space building – are already underway.

The Chapel Hill Community Design Commission recently heard a community zoning recommendation for the Wallace Parking Deck area which will become an “innovation district.”

After construction of the new Rosemary Street parking deck is completed, the town-owned Wallace Parking Deck will be demolished. In its place, a seven-story lab and office building is set to be constructed.

Michael Stevenson, an architect with Perkins and Eastman working on the project, said the larger redevelopment plans will create a significant amount of space for businesses and research in downtown Chapel Hill.

“We’re very interested in the proximity to the university and the downtown business district and improving pedestrian connectivity between Franklin and Rosemary and the surrounding neighborhoods,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said the deck is surrounded by an ally off of Rosemary, but the current alley alignment interrupts the pedestrian space between the building and the public space.

“What we propose is to rotate that last leg of the alley to the east and exit it onto Henderson,” Stevenson said. “Then create a continuous pedestrian space from the building frontage all the way across the park to Henderson and Rosemary.”

The 200,000 square foot building will host a web-lab space and other business partners. BioLabs, a co-working space for life science startups, will operate out of the new building, having already claimed space. The town said this project is estimated to bring $50 million and 800 jobs.

The project also includes a public green space on the corner of East Rosemary Street and Henderson Street.

Chair of the Community Design Commission, Susana Dancy, commended the work done on the plans for the Rosemary Street redevelopment.

“The changes you’ve made will improve the quality of space on Rosemary Street immeasurably, compared to the last time we saw this,” Dancy said. “I want to give you two thumbs up on that one.”

The Community Design Commission voted unanimously, recommending approval to the Chapel Hill Town Council with a few conditions. One is to reexamine the dumpster area with a suggestion to find another option in a different location.

The other condition within the approval is to see examples of the Strobic fans which will be used to remove exhaust and contaminants from the lab space. The commissioners asked for final approval on the treatment of that mechanical equipment.

 

Photo via Town of Chapel Hill

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Town Council Puts Final Stamp of Approval on Downtown Wet Lab
As the East Rosemary Redevelopment project continues to move forward, last week’s Chapel Hill Town Council meeting provided a big step toward outlining exactly what that will look like. The council approved the 150 East Rosemary rezoning proposal, which will bring office space, commercial development and a wet lab to downtown.
Chapel Hill Town Council Unanimously Approves Rosemary-Columbia Hotel
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.
Rosemary Street Parking Deck Demolition To Begin This Month
East Rosemary Street is going to look very different in the coming weeks, as the Town of Chapel Hill prepares for the demolition of the existing Rosemary Street Parking Deck this month – as part of the greater East Rosemary Street redevelopment.
East Rosemary Parking Deck Faces Increased Costs, Demolition Set for July
At the Town of Chapel Hill’s latest town council meeting, developers gave an updated timeline for the East Rosemary parking deck and detailed why the development will cost the town more than $10 million in unforeseen construction costs.
Chapel Hill Approves Agreement for Major East Rosemary Development with 5-3 Vote
The Chapel Hill Town Council took a significant procedural step to the start of major development planned along East Rosemary Street in the coming years. With a 5-3 vote at its Wednesday meeting, the council approved Town Manager Maurice Jones to enter a development agreement with Grubb Properties, who plans to construct a new parking […]
Chapel Hill Town Council Discusses Next Step of East Rosemary Development
Plans for major developments on Chapel Hill’s East Rosemary Street were put on hold from public meetings during the summer break. But as local government returned, Chapel Hill’s Town Council recently discussed the next step of the project and heard public comment. The East Rosemary Downtown Deck and Redevelopment Project consists of the town consolidating […]
Town of Chapel Hill Still 'Negotiating' On Rosemary Street Parking Deck as Summer Break Begins
The Chapel Hill Town Council had a full agenda for its last scheduled meeting before a summer break last Wednesday. One item not discussed, however, was a formal economic development agreement for a proposed parking deck on East Rosemary Street. The town and Grubb Properties, the developers applying for the project, are still in discussions […]
E. Rosemary Street Redevelopment Negotiations Continue
The Chapel Hill Town Council met virtually for a work session Monday night to discuss the East Rosemary Street redevelopment. This multi-million-dollar undertaking is being fronted by the Town of Chapel Hill and real-estate developer Grubb Properties. Despite having to meet virtually, negotiations surrounding the 3.2 acres of redevelopment along East Rosemary Street continue to […]
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 […]
Transit, Stormwater Among Concerns for Redevelopment of University Place in Chapel Hill
Ownership of the University Place mall continued to receive their first round of feedback on concept plans of a reimagining of the property. The Chapel Hill Town Council shared their impressions of the initial designs last week. The council’s review of the concept plans came just eight days after Ram Realty, the ownership group of […]
›