Chapel Hill Library in the Mall? (Madison: sale, credit, house)

[Tootie the Brave]

Originally Posted by someonelikeyou

Wow - I still remember when the current Chapel Hill Library opened - doesn't seem that long ago... I was so excited. Really loved sitting in the back with the large windows overlooking the trees. So quiet and peaceful. A move to University Mall would certainly kill that ambiance...

I would be sad about that; it's so beautiful outside the library, and I love all the windows. However, I'm not sure how much of that beauty will be there after the expansion. And the expansion HAS to happen - the library is far too small for the demand.

CHTransplant - you should definitely venture out from A Southern Season and spend some time in UMall! It's quiet and different and boutique-ish, but there are many gems within - Cameron's, Details, Branching Out/Night Gallery, Chick-Fil-A , the Animation Gallery, KitchenWorks, Alfredo's (yum!) - it is well worth part of a day/evening out. I highly recommend heading there for some Christmas shopping on Black Friday weekend. You won't find the horrible crowds, but you will find some good sales and wonderful gifts. I think it's one of the best places in CH for gift shopping.

[CHTransplant]

Thanks Tootie. I really should check out more of what that Mall has to offer. Maybe when the new library opens there it will be a good excuse for me.

[ncmickey]

The only drawback I see is a rent payment to UMall, and a loss of taxable space at the mall. I would like to see some long range comparisions.

[CHTransplant]

Originally Posted by ncmickey

The only drawback I see is a rent payment to UMall.

I noticed that all the materials on this mention a "sale" of the space to the city. That struck me as odd for a mall - but perhaps there would be no on-going rent involved. (There is a mention of maintenance or common fees.) The financial comparison the city manager prepared didn't seem to include any rent.

[SFspiderman]

^^^Chapel Hill would buy the Dillard's space for $4 million. It's actually fairly common for anchor stores to purchase their store spaces at malls rather than renting.

And it would be cheaper to build out the mall space than to renovate/expand the existing library.

And they'd be able to use the existing library for other purposes...offices for parks and rec is the proposal.

Seems like a win-win-win all around.

[CHwboy]

I agree this is great. I've never understood why so many American government buildings (especially the post office) are on quasi-military looking compound buildings, but the library has always puzzled me in particular.

It's on a compound in the middle of nowhere! I understand about parking worries but a library should be somewhere you can stroll into and browse. But the way chapel hill public library is now, I half expect a checkpoint to shoot me up Iraq-style as I drive up that road. I'd prefer it to be in central Chapel Hill, but university mall is a good second choice.

chwboy

[no kudzu]

Wherever it is, it is a treasure for our community. If we can get more useage for more people then put it in the mall. I agree, the present one is kinda off the beaten path but it is in a beautiful site.

[librarySue]

OMG< let me know when they are ready to start hiring, if I could work in a library that near a Chik-fil-a I would surely think I had dined and gone to heaven!

[Francois]

Originally Posted by librarySue

OMG< let me know when they are ready to start hiring,

With the #1 Library School in the USA [my alma mater ] right there at UNC, good luck with that Just a WEE bit of competition!

if I could work in a library that near a Chik-fil-a I would surely think I had dined and gone to heaven!

I've seen Freudian slips before, but this is my favorite!

(PS, I worked in that mall for two years, and it DOES get old, even Chik-Fil-A! And your waistline will never forgive you!)

[CHwboy]

^ Uh, I think the 'dined' bit is deliberate.