Fences Go Up at University Place as Preparation for New Construction Begins

UPDATE: RAM Realty, the ownership group for University Place, has called a stakeholders meeting for tenants to hear details on the plans and timeline of the initial phases of redevelopment slated for this fall. The meeting is set for the morning of Friday, October 28.

The University Place mall in Chapel Hill is partially known for its ample parking lots — but there’s one portion that will be off-limits to patrons for the foreseeable future.

Contractors installed temporary fencing around the southeast corner of the parking lot off South Estes Drive on Wednesday, an initial step as the mall prepares for construction of a new building in that corner of its property. While visitors may see some vehicles may be parked behind the fencing, University Place officials say they belong to construction workers or staff and the vehicles are able to leave. The area will eventually be cleared out in preparation of reconfiguring the corner to build a Chase Bank location.

Temporary fencing is installed around the southeast corner of the University Place parking lot on October 12, 2022.

The fencing is expected to soon extend further, nearly bordering the parking immediately next to the existing First Horizon Bank off South Estes Drive. Additionally, motorists will soon experience the mall’s entrance by the Circle K gas station and near the South Estes Drive-Fordham Boulevard intersection being closed off for the work.

A spokesperson for University Place mall confirmed to Chapelboro that a road around the main mall building will always be left open during the work, to ensure both foot and vehicle traffic can continue.

Even more dramatic change is planned for that part of University Place in coming months. RAM Realty, the real estate and development company which owns the mall, said in August it plans to demolish the empty space where the gourmet-goods store Southern Season used to be. The move is a key part of the mall’s redevelopment vision, which includes featuring more outward-facing businesses and the construction of buildings along Fordham Boulevard.

The master plan for University Place’s redevelopment, as shared in August 2022. (Photo via RAM REALTY.)

Editor’s Note: Chapel Hill Media Group is a tenant of University Place, having first moved there in 2016.

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