The group of Sarah Mason, Susan Williams, and Fran Ward walk together inside University Place mall most mornings during the week. The trio, who are sometimes joined by another woman, have walked the halls for many years. Mason said she’s done it as recreation since 2009 and remembers when the mall off South Estes Drive was first constructed in the 1970s.
“Yeah, we’ve seen a lot of changes here,” she said. “I remember when this was a field.”
The mall walking group say they enjoy University Place because of its central location and the indoor space allows them to exercise in climate-controlled areas. Mason, her companions, and other groups of people move up and down the hallways and frequented some of the mall’s businesses before they started closing.
That practice became a little harder in recent months, though, due to a noticeable addition to the mall’s central space.
“The wall,” she said with a chuckle.
“We have to do quite a few short loops,” Williams chimed in.
The new interior wall was constructed in recent weeks to block off the eastern wing of University Place – as developers prepared for its demolition and subsequent redevelopment. Now, more than a quarter of the interior mall space lies in rubble.
Mason said before the demolition began, it signaled a bittersweet step for her group.
“When I saw the wall go up, it kind of hurt my heart a little bit,” said the Chapel Hill resident, “because I remembered what a nice mall it was in the beginning. And…there’s a wall now.”
In early February, a new interior wall was constructed to reached across the width of the eastern wing’s entrance. Mall management said the measure is to protect visitors’ safety from the ongoing demolition, while also providing a staging area for utility crews.
William Alexander also walks inside the mall frequently – although less so than he used to. He recounted starting to walk inside University Place several years ago and seeing focus shift toward exterior businesses.
“I really started walking when my daughter was born,” Alexander described. “I would put her in a stroller and walk her through the mall. I would count the stores that were missing or closed, and it was one, two, or three. Then it was ‘seven, eight, nine’ as more and more closed, and now it’s just a few that are left.”
According to development plans by University Place’s owners, Ram Realty, that emphasis on having external entrances will lead to no more interior space – for businesses or for mall walkers. While the redevelopment’s aim is to create a more walkable space outdoors between businesses, it means the environment for some residents’ hobby will be naught.
An aerial map with the businesses and buildings planned for University Place’s completed redevelopment, circa March 2023. (Photo via Ram Realty Advisors/Foundry Commercial.)
It’s a reality Alexander is already well aware of. He said he now mostly walks on the nearby Battle Branch Trail.
“You know, it’s sad to say goodbye to this haunt, especially with my kids,” said Alexander. “I have a lot of fond memories taking them through Southern Season, we’d have all kinds of little games we’d play. Whether it was running up and down the elevator stairs in Southern Season or visiting the Night Gallery…those are all kind of gone.”
When asked whether her group had any alternative walking spots in mind, Mason shook her head.
“No, not [any options that are] this convenient,” she said. “I mean, there’s Southpoint [in Durham], but we all live in Chapel Hill so that takes up time to get to and from.”
“And gas,” Ward added.
Mason acknowledged, however, that few things ever stay the same.
“There’s always progress that has to go on,” she said. “Even if you don’t like it, you have to put up with it.”
Until then, Mason and other mall walkers will continue their strolls through the University Place corridors.
More information about mall’s redevelopment can be found on the University Place vision website.
Editor’s Note: Chapel Hill Media Group is a tenant of University Place, having first moved there in 2016.
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even with development, why can’t we still had an indoor walking space at University Place?