By Gary A. Miller, Red Bloom Realty
“What is it that binds us to this place as to no other?”
Charles Kuralt was speaking of the university when he spoke those words in 1993. But I think many local residents would say that it is a question that is just as applicable to the town that surrounds it, as it is of the university itself.
I moved to Chapel Hill just one year after that famous Kuralt speech was delivered as part of the 1993 celebration of UNC’s bicentennial. At that time, there was a gas station on the corner of Franklin and Columbia in place of the building that now holds Top of the Hill. Schoolkids Records, Peppers Pizza, and Hardback Café were all still downtown mainstays. A lot has changed in Chapel Hill and Carrboro since that time, and things are still changing each and every day.
My career prompted me to move away from the Triangle on two separate occasions, taking me to Atlanta and Seattle first before returning, and then later to Long Island, New York, before returning to Chapel Hill for the final time. Each time I returned to find the area slightly changed, but still entirely compelling and comfortable.
When people ask why I keep returning, it’s an easy answer: it gives me everything I want, without the hassle or difficulties of those larger cities.
The real question is why I bothered trying to leave in the first place! I feel lucky to be in such a wonderful place. It’s not a perfect place, but it’s my place. It’s home, and as a real estate agent, I love to help others make it home, as well.
Whether you were born here or are a new arrival, the area has a special something. So, to paraphrase Mr. Kuralt, what is it about this place? I decided to ask some residents to tell me their favorite thing about Chapel Hill/Carrboro. While no doubt there are as many different responses as there are residents, here’s a sampling of why we love it here, along with a few concerns about how it’s being impacted by development.
What I like best about Chapel Hill that it has a small town feel without a small-town mentality. That’s because I want to have variety of thought and raise my kids in a diverse place. – Christine Jernigan
My favorite thing about living in Chapel Hill/Carrboro is the Carolina Tar Heels because it gives everyone a shared camaraderie. – Chris Fields
My favorite thing about living in Chapel Hill/Carrboro is having great neighbors, because we moved here last year, and they made us feel welcome and at home from the start! – Ruthann Hurwitz and Jeanette Valleau
My favorite thing is our community, because having kind and supportive people around us enriches our lives. – Ying Zhu
The long, beautiful spring and fall weather, because the flowers and trees are gorgeous and we can get outdoors and enjoy them in town, on campus, and on the many lovely greenways and woodland trails available to us. – Jane Provan
My favorite thing about living in Chapel Hill is having big city choices with only small city headaches because in the past we were more careful with development approvals than we are today. Sadly, this is slipping away. – Charles Humble
My favorite thing about living in Chapel Hill is the green, natural environment, and catching glimpses of the diversity of wildlife that it supports – deer, foxes, rabbits, owls. Resting the eye on this natural beauty creates a sense of peace, contentment and well-being. Unfortunately, these habitats are being destroyed and paved over daily in the name of growth and commerce. – Dimitri Putilin, Ph.D.
My favorite are the people, because everyone is kind and interesting to spend time with. – Kelly Alexander
My favorite thing about living in Chapel Hill/Carrboro is the people, because of their intelligence, interest and empathy and the way they are positively and actively involved with each other and our community. – Elizabeth O’Nan
For me, it’s the location, because it’s close to the beach, mountains, my family and friends, and it has four seasons (well, maybe more like 8). – Dr. Aaron Bachenheimer
I feel lucky to be in a place that is big enough to offer all of these things, but small enough that when you send a request for quotes out to a few neighborhood email lists, you actually have the mayor of the town reply to your request:
My favorite thing about Chapel Hill/Carrboro is the people, because they value the concept that diversity and inclusion make a better community – Pam Hemminger, Mayor of Chapel Hill
Ultimately, we are all lucky to be local to Chapel Hill and Carrboro. I feel lucky to be in a community that is filled with people who care. I feel lucky to be in a town that offers so much art, music, food, and outdoors events. I’m lucky this is home.
Gary A. Miller is co-owner of Red Bloom Realty. He has lived and worked in Chapel Hill off and on since 1994 and is an avid musician, kayaker, traveler, and former educator.
Featured image via the Town of Chapel Hill.
Are You Feeling Lucky to be Local?
Here at 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com, we are feeling lucky this Spring, and we want to know what makes you feel lucky to live in our area.
Do you have a restaurant that serves up a favorite special dish or beverage? Or just a nice outdoor green space where you love to relax and retreat?
Celebrate local places with us by submitting a list of your favorite local spots before April 16th, and you may get lucky enough to win a heap of great local prizes! Just click the image below to find out details and enter your local favorites!
