Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Public Library as Anchor Store


Chapel Hill Library move brings out residents. (Raleigh News Observer, 2/2/2011)

Excerpt: If there’s one thing that’s clear as Chapel Hill considers whether to move its public library to University Mall, it’s that residents are passionate about their library.

About 60 people attended a public forum tonight to get more information on the proposal to move the Chapel Hill Public Library, the most used library per capita in the state, to University Mall.

In November, mall owner Madison Marquette asked the town to consider the anchor space currently occupied by Dillard's for an expanded Chapel Hill Public Library. The firm offered to sell the town 52,000 square feet of ground floor mall space for $4 million cash, providing Dillard's ends its lease.

The Town Council put expansion plans at the library's current site off Estes Drive on hold for 60 days to explore the mall offer.

The town has received more than 1,000 comments on their website about the move. Many have questioned the financial health and appearance of the mall and expressed concerns about the possibility of flooding at University Mall, which is in a flood plain
.

Chapel Hill move raises concerns.  (News Observer, 1/19/2011)

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