I recently completed a questionnaire for one of our Town’s more prominent institutions that consisted of a dozen queries. We live in a sound bite society, but I was a bit surprised that for a Town like ours, one going through several concurrent evolutions, the answers were restricted to: Yes, No, Unsure.
Hmmm…anyone that’s spoken with me knows I have problems squeezing nuance into a 30 second reply. Imagine the difficulty I had with this questionnaire. Luckily, I was allowed to expand with three specific proposals for improving Town:
As Chapel Hill transitions from Town to City we need to cultivate economic activity throughout Town. That starts with a creating a new EDC, doing a real survey of all business activity and creating a strategic plan for economic development that looks 5,10,20 years out.
We need to get creative and realize we can support innovative economic activity by supporting a municipally-sponsored broadband service. Besides advertising Chapel Hill as a Town on the (technology) rise, it attracts low impact businesses that employ our next generation of consumers.
Finally, we need to revisit some traditional amenities that have all but disappeared in Chapel Hill. Drinking fountains and attractive public restrooms are a good start. And to make Downtown family friendlier, I’m calling for a state-of-the-art, world-class, “mom, do we have to leave” play structure in a prominent Downtown location.
WillR,
I think of how much downtown has changed since I was a student here 10+ years ago. Newly-arrived friends love the “quaint” atmosphere, but it is clear that our downtown is nowhere near as vital as it could be, and people are hungry for it to be. A real forward-looking, long-range plan is greatly needed, and the municipally-sponsored broadband service is a wonderful way to start our transition to cityhood. Broadband service would serve the community while having the added benefit of bringing attention and attracting new investors to a cutting edge community.
And I’m delighted to see you mention amenities that I’d long ago forgotten about — water fountains, public restrooms, a playground. Of course!
You have this Durhamite’s support.
Thank you ae for both being my 1st poster – Hooray and for your kind support.
Oh, and thanks for keeping that fire in my belly stoked – absolutely devastating posts!