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Carolina, Coal Ash and Karma
A perspective from Randall Barrow
Being a lifelong resident of any town means learning a great deal of local history, some of which might be considered uncomfortable or inconvenient. I’ve lived in Chapel Hill my whole life, and I know where the bodies – or ashes – are buried. But I’m not the only one. The town claims to have “discovered” in 2013 that there was coal ash at 828 MLK Blvd. I offer the following brief history, along with easy-to-find sources, to demonstrate that the coal ash has been a matter of public record long before then.
I hope it will fill in the blanks and clarify some of the facts surrounding the old Sparrow property, how it was acquired by the town, and the consequences of that action.
In reverse chronological order:
Source: https://www.futureof828.org/timeline
“2013 Town learns coal ash exists on property during an asset evaluation of Town owned properties” [Comment: – I am so reminded of the classic scene in “Casablanca”, I almost have to laugh, almost.] Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbPi00k_ME
April 2, 1992 — Source: Daily Tar Heel “UNC seeks reduced fees to dump power plant ash” UNC complains about dumping fees for their coal ash. It’s all about the money. https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073228/1992-04-02/ed-1/seq-1
Source: https://www.futureof828.org/timeline
“1980’s Town acquires property and constructs the police station which continues to house police operations today”
March 2, 1979 — Source: Orange County Record Book 304 page 693
Town of Chapel Hill takes the land from the Sparrow family heirs by filing a “Complaint and Declaration of Taking by the issuance of Summons” with the Orange County Superior Court in accordance with NC G.S. Section 136-104
February 12, 1979 — Source: https://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/records/Minutes/1979/790212-OCR.pdf “A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONDEMNATION (POLICE BUILDING SITE)” (on page 11 of 14)
In executive session, the Board of Alderman moves to condemn the site.
April 13, 1976 — Source: Daily Tar Heel “Ash disposal site to be upgraded”
https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073228/1976-04-13/ed-1/seq-1
Glen Heights residents complain about UNC’s repeatedly dumping coal ash on the ground close to their homes.
March 6, 1963 — Source: Chapel Hill Weekly “Action Promised Against Eyesore“ https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073229/1963-03-06/ed-1/seq-1
Local businessman / restaurateur Ted Danziger (Ranch House, Zoom Zoom, Rathskeller, etc.) speaking on behalf of himself and eight other property owners in the area immediately surrounding the site complain about UNC’s dumping their coal ash on the site in violation of local zoning ordinances.
This article appeared on the front page of the Chapel Hill Weekly, with full knowledge of the Planning Department and the Board of Aldermen. How can the town now, with any credibility, claim that until 2013 they had no idea coal ash from the UNC power plant was being dumped at 828 MLK (formerly Airport Road)? How can they deny that it was UNC’s waste product? Seriously? I was not fooled, and neither should you be.
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
Randall Barrow,
This was a really interesting write up. I appreciate the research, history, and links. One of the questions that keeps coming up is ‘why isn’t UNC being held accountable for the clean up’, and I think you uncovered the answer. I, and perhaps many others, were under the impression that UNC had owned this land and used it to dump coal ash and construction debris; but your research shows it was owned by an individual/family, and not the University. It also indicates that the Town of Chapel Hill did not purchase the site at all, and appear to have ‘acquired’ it through condemnation; which would be another reason why UNC is not accountable for the clean up.
Very informative. Thank you for sharing it here.