The Chapel Hill Public Library is one of the most visited libraries in North Carolina. Despite the success and beauty of the current library, the Town of Chapel Hill has proposed to move the library to University Mall, in place of the existing Dillards deparment store. As a neighbor of the library, I implore you to take a few seconds to sign this petition as your voice against the proposed relocation. I plan to present the results of this petition at the Town Council meetings on February 2nd and the 14th, 2011.
I oppose the relocation because:
1. I do not believe the move would actually save money because the budget posted online does not include the $50,000 that will be lost each year in sales and property tax revenue without Dillards. It also does not include the $4 million that is needed to purchase the property from mall management. The mall location will be subject to higher insurance costs because the mall is in a flood plain, and if it does flood, there will be more unconsidered costs. We are getting less space at the mall (52,000 sq. feet), while also getting a 40 year old building with high maintenance costs.
2. The library is already accessible. The current library is accessible by bike, on foot, or by bus. A mall library will not be as accessible by foot or bike because of the traffic on Franklin St, which brings up environmental considerations. Although parking is sometimes a problem, it would also be an issue at the mall. Where will we park on UNC game days when parking is already rare? Finally, the two locations are less than a mile apart, so it would be near affordable housing either way.
3. I do not think we should entrust our library to mall management. Mall management has recently proven to be difficult to work with, losing some of its oldest stores and having many vacancies. Mall management would have much of the control over the construction, meaning that the malls' interests might be considered heavily. In addition, commercial malls in general do not last forever. We will be attaching our library to a structure whose future is always uncertain and over which the town will have no control. Finally, there is no proof that the library will be an economic catalyst for the mall.
For more information, visit
http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?recordid=2338&page=22Thank you for your time. Sydney
