INC NEWS - Editorial: Central Campus details are needed (Herald-Sun)

[John Schelp]

Editorial: Central Campus details are needed
Herald-Sun, 28 July 2006 
 
It makes abundant sense that the community should be
interested in what happens in the redevelopment of 128
acres of Duke's Central Campus. 

Duke has requested a zoning change to university and
college designation for the site, but the plans it has
submitted to the City/County Planning Department are
mostly a blank slate. That's not technically a problem
-- the Planning Department believes the plan meets the
minimum requirements of Durham's land use law. 

But still, City Council members and others would
understandably like to see more detail before signing
off on a sight-unseen project. One of the major
concerns to date has been whether a too-heavy
commercial presence of stores and restaurants on
Central Campus would provide adverse competition for
nearby businesses on Ninth Street. 

Businesses on Duke campus get an automatic leg-up
because of easy access for students and tax advantages
not shared by Durham-based entrepreneurs. It's
important for all, as this process continues, to make
sure that Ninth Street -- one of Durham's most vibrant
business areas -- is enhanced, not hurt, by Duke's
plans. 

In the midst of the concern, we should remember that
redeveloping this area is an exciting prospect.
Central Campus is a not-especially-attractive
forgotten zone between East and West campus and the
Medical Center. Improving the area will help continue
the current development renaissance affecting all
parts of Durham. And Duke has pledged to protect Ninth
Street, and added recently that any new bookstore
would not be a mega Borders or Barnes & Noble. 

With the lacrosse case still swirling, it's a
propitious time for improving town-gown relations.
Good communications on the Central Campus issue would
set an excellent example. 

Toward that end, several City Council members and
community activists are requesting more information
about Central Campus from Duke, and the spirit in
which the requests are made is heartening. 

In a Thursday article by The Herald-Sun's Ray
Gronberg, Councilwoman Diane Catotti matched the tone
set by fellow members Thomas Stith and Mike Woodard.
"In general, the more detail the better," she said.
"And I have a history of trying to work out stuff and
trying to get as many committed elements [in rezoning
cases as possible.]" 

Working stuff out is good. For their parts,
neighborhood activists John Schelp and Tom Miller also
seem willing to help work things out. They may not
wind up being happy with every point of the 12-point
list of concerns they presented to Duke and City
Council, but Miller said he thinks the process will
produce "something that everybody will be reasonably
happy with. We view what's happening as a point of
beginning." 

Which is a good place to start.