INC NEWS - Duke's forum on Central Campus (email from March 2004)

[John Schelp]

folks,

Below is an email I prepared after Duke's March 2004
forum on Central Campus.

After attending this week's meeting, we could change a
couple names and send out virtually the same note.

In fact, we're being told less now than we were told a
year ago. About the only straight answer Duke gave was
a promise to protect the hollows and gorges with
creeks on Central Campus. 

Everything else was, "We can't say, we don't know."
Duke declined to take retail-heavy zoning categories
off the table (ie. "General Commercial" or "Mixed
Use") -- even though they've know this has been our
biggest concern since Feb 2003.

Duke declined suggestions from folks at the meeting to
add representatives from the partnership neighborhoods
to Duke's planning committees. These reps, of course,
would be chosen by the partnership neighborhoods --
not hand-picked by Duke. 

Reading the note below can help explain how completely
frustrating this two-year saga has been.

have a good weekend,

John Schelp
Old West Durham

****

Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 08:59:55
Subject: thoughts about this week's meeting with Duke 

* Duke's Central Campus proposal offered a set of
conceptual pictures but did not include figures for
their on-campus retail plans -- disappointing because
Duke has know for 12 months that on-campus retail was
a core issue for the Duke-Durham partnership
neighborhoods.

* Executive Duke VP Tallman Trask was asked five
questions, prepared by the partnership
neighborhoods...

1) Mr. Trask said he "hoped" Central Campus will be
zoned under the "University" category but raised the
possibility it might be "General Commercial." This is
stunning news.

2) Duke can't say when they'll submit their rezoning
application.

3) Mr. Trask wouldn't say (or approximate) how many
total square feet of retail were planned.

4) When asked how much retail Duke wanted above and
beyond our agreed-upon list of retail uses, Mr. Trask
acknowledged Duke's desire for another 10,000 square
feet, perhaps even more. This additional 10,000 square
feet violates our agreement (i.e. three restaurants to
serve the new student dorms, a bowling alley,
performing arts center, 99-room hotel, Duke clothing
store and on-campus book store with coffee shop).

5) When asked if he's had recent conversations with
local officials about the Central Campus plans, Mr.
Trask acknowledged he had already shared the plans
with the Planning Director, the Mayor and the City
Manager.

* When asked about on-campus stores not having to pay
property taxes (giving them an unfair advantage over
nearby businesses), Mr. Trask was unclear in his
answer. 

* After accusing me of spreading "rumors" that Duke
intended to build more retail, Duke confirmed that
indeed they were going to build at least 10,000 sq
feet of new retail (above and beyond the agreement
worked out with the partnership neighborhoods). 

* If the Planning Director had already told Duke that
their proposed retail uses would fall under the
"University" category, why would Tallman Trask raise
the possibility of going for "General Commercial" at a
public forum?

* UNC's neighbors in Chapel Hill have bemoaned
University leaders talking/lobbying with local
officials. They feel this action isn't in the spirit
of Sunshine laws and gives University officials an
undue advantage. Duke acknowledged already having its
own quiet conversations with Durham officials -- even
though they had promised they'd share the Central
Campus plans with the partnership neighborhoods when
they were ready.

****