Update on Southern Village Hotel Proposal from D.R. Bryan

At the January 21 Chapel Hill Town Council meeting, I presented a concept plan for a hotel in the Village Center, to be located on the central parking lot. Several citizens spoke on the project, some opposing and some favoring. The Parking Lot Committee, a group appointed by the Southern Village Homeowners Association, made a detailed presentation of the results of the survey they administered to Southern Village residents. Council Members made comments on height and scale, aesthetics, parking and economic benefits.

The entire Council meeting can be viewed on the town's website. Go to www.townofchapelhill.org. On the home page, go to Government, then Council Meeting Videos, then click on January 21. The Southern Village item came up about midway through the meeting. To skip the previous items, move the advance button at the top of the video screen.

Next Steps:
We are taking into account the Council Members' and citizens comments as we continue to do research on this proposal and explore different design ideas. We sent a letter to the Parking Lot Committee, asking them to be more specific about suggestions and concerns raised in their presentation, and asking them for a copy of the survey results. We think our proposal will benefit from a close analysis of that data. A copy of the letter is posted below.



January 29, 2009
To: Members of the Southern Village HOA Parking Lot Committee:
Subject: Southern Village Hotel Proposal
Thank you all for the time and effort you have devoted to gathering information and opinion on the concept of a hotel for our Village Center. We look forward to working with you in the coming weeks, as Council Member Strom suggested, to address neighbors’ concerns and craft a viable proposal for the Council and the general public to consider.
To this end, we need to ask you for more specific information in a number of areas – the survey, height and scale, safety and specific concerns about a hotel as a use in this location. We also think we need more discussion about the economics of the Village Center.
The survey. It would be helpful if you would send us a copy of the raw data from the neighborhood survey. Seeing the results will help us evaluate properly the opinions of the people who took the time to complete the survey. We also think that the survey may give us some insights that will help us market the Village Center to the neighborhood more effectively. That would be a positive outcome for all.
Height and scale. Building height has been mentioned several times. It would be help us to know what height you think is acceptable for a building on the central parking lot. The height of the Weaver Street Building? One story higher than existing buildings? Four stories? Some particular relation to Christ Church? Any specific concerns about scale and form would also be helpful to us. For example, would a lower building covering the entire lot be more acceptable than the design we have shown, which leaves a significant amount of parking open? As we’ve said many times, we welcome design suggestions.
Safety. Deidre Haj and others have mentioned concerns about safety, but we do not know what facts or studies give rise to those concerns. Any issues about traffic and pedestrian safety are thoroughly addressed through the town’s application and review process. One of the four key findings in the special use permit process includes safety. As for personal safety, we think that a hotel would enhance safety in the Village Center for several simple reasons. Hotels have electronic security systems, security staff and eyes on the street during the evening hours. Safety is critical to a hotel’s reputation and desirability.
Hotel as a use. Specifically, what do committee members like and not like about a hotel as a use in the Village Center? Cindy Selkirk proposed the idea of a hotel at the corner of 15-501 and Market Street, instead of on the parking lot. Would the committee support a hotel in that location? If so, we would be willing to talk with the town and the church to see whether a hotel and related parking would fit there and whether it could be financially viable.
Economics of the Village Center. Some committee members seem to question our assertion that our local restaurants and businesses need more dollars coming into our commercial area. We would very much appreciate learning why those members think there is not an economic challenge in our midst. Some of our non-profit tenants, such as Christ Church, Market Street Books and IPAS, decided to remain neutral on the hotel issue. But virtually all of our businesses who attempt to make a profit or at least pay themselves a salary in their locally owned businesses have signed a petition in support of this proposal. We are very open to more dialogue with the committee on this, perhaps including some of our business owners. This is the critically important issue.
We look forward to receiving your responses to these questions and encourage you to be as specific as you can be. We would also like to have a copy of Deidre’s power point, so that we can begin thinking of ways address problems and seek compromise.
Thanks you again for your time and dedication to Southern Village.

DR Bryan