INC NEWS - neighborhood launches new webpage, letter in Sunday paper

[John Schelp]

folks,

Below is a letter from today's paper responding to
Duke's repeated assertions that they're just now
starting their Central Campus plans with a "blank
canvas."

We've just launched a new webpage which includes
newspaper blurbs, quotes from neighbors, merchants,
etc, and images of vacant storefronts near campus. 

While Duke officials keep pushing their "blank canvas"
-- you can see drawings of some of Duke's plans for
Central Campus.

A quote from Duke's most famous alumnus is at the
bottom of the page...

http://www.owdna.org/duke.htm

all best,

John Schelp
Old West Durham

****

Letter: Duke has visions of retail
Herald-Sun, Sunday, 20 February 2005 
 
Duke repeatedly saying its plans for Central Campus
are a "blank canvas" is surprising for those of us in
the Duke-Durham partnership neighborhoods who've spent
months negotiating with Duke about campus land use
plans. 

If the canvas is blank, why is Duke trying to get
retail on Central Campus? 

* At the very beginning of discussions with
partnership neighborhoods, Duke's architect went
behind our backs and asked local planning officials to
change the proposed university-college zoning
ordinance to allow unlimited retail on campus. 

* Soon thereafter, the head of Duke community affairs
stated that significant retail would be appropriate on
Central Campus because of the new regional rail
station coming to Ninth Street. 

* A year later, Tallman Trask suggested at a forum
that Duke may ask local officials to designate Central
Campus as "general commercial" (which would allow
unlimited retail). 

Duke's "blank canvas" argument is designed for public
consumption. It's an insult to all the neighborhood
representatives who have spent countless hours on
Central Campus land use plans. Are Duke officials
actually suggesting the results of all those efforts
are now meaningless? 

Duke officials have known that on-campus retail has
been an important issue since February 2003. Yet, at
this week's forum, Duke refused (again) to take
"general commercial" or "mixed use" zoning
designations off the table. Both categories would
allow heavy retail on Central Campus (i.e., retail
that's above and beyond the school's academic
mission). 

Creating a Duke retail cocoon (without having to pay
property taxes) would keep more money on campus. Duke
can begin to build back trust by committing to a
"University-College" zoning for Central Campus. 

JOHN SCHELP
DURHAM