[Durham INC] DATE NOW SET: "Relay Run for a Paycheck" in Opposition to 751 South Rezoning

[Melissa Rooney]

Thanks to those who signed up for the run (or walk if you prefer) in opposition to the 751 South Rezoning. The date and location are now set -- see below.

Melissa Rooney


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Kate Fellman <durhampa at mindspring.com>
To: Durham PA <durhampa at mindspring.com>
Sent: Fri, June 11, 2010 4:19:43 PM
Subject: For Immediate Release: People's Alliance Holds "Relay Run for a Paycheck" in Opposition to 751 South Rezoning

 
 
For Immediate Release:                                                
 
Contact:
Kathryn Spann (477-5653, kathryn6668 at yahoo.com)
or
Page McCullough (220-8004, page.mc at verizon.net) or
Kate Fellman, People’s Alliance Coordinator (919-682-7777 or
274-9117, durhampa at mindspring.com)


People’s  Alliance 
Holds “Relay Run for a Paycheck” in Opposition to 751 South
Rezoning. 
 
Relay to be run from the Holton Career Resource Center, 401 N. Driver
Street, to 8606 Fayetteville Street, across from the  proposed 751 Assemblage development site,
June 17
 
Durham, N.C. — This Thursday, June 17th, a group of 15 runners
will hold a “Relay Run For a Paycheck” from the Holton Career
Resource Center to the site of the proposed 751 South Development, to highlight
the fatal flaw in the developer’s promise of jobs for Durham
residents:  the site is near the
Chatham County line, more than 10 miles from those Durham residents most in
need of jobs, and cannot be reached by public transportation.  
 
The Durham People’s  Alliance 
has organized a group of runners, jobs advocates, outdoorsmen, and others in
favor of smart growth, who are concerned about the taxpayer cost to support
this large development in a rural area, about the hollow promise of jobs for Durhamites, and about the threat posed by the development
to the already-impaired Jordan Lake .  
 
The 751 Assemblage (rezoning case number
Z0800003 - changing land from rural low-density to mixed use high-density) is
a $500 million, residential and commercial project proposed for 165 acres
in the environmentally sensitive land adjacent to Jordan Lake, the plans
for which include 600,000 square feet of retail and office space and 1,300
residential units.
 
David Harris, president of the citizens’ group, explains:
“The People’s  Alliance 
wants to bring home to Durham 
residents and our elected officials just how far out 751 South is. We need jobs
in the city of Durham , not at the
Chatham County Line. Southern Durham Development is
touting jobs as the reason for this development, and yes, we do desperately
need more jobs in Durham .
Unfortunately this development is so far away from those who need the jobs the
most, they will not be able to get there.”   Southern Durham 
Development agreed to round trip shuttles to and from Southpoint Mall, but the question remains – who will pay for that cost? Nor will
they commit to provide affordable housing. Low skilled workers won’t be
able to afford to get to, or live in, 751South. 
 
In the long run – and it is indeed a long run to the site --751
South will cost Durham taxpayers dearly. The developers have refused to commit
to meeting the new regulations for  Jordan  Lake water quality. This poses the
question – who will pay the multi-million-dollar cost of the retrofits for
the development once the regulations go into effect? Jordan  Lake already has impaired water
quality, and this development would further strain an already impaired Triangle
water-supply. This development will likewise contribute to air pollution of the
area, with an estimated 40,000 new trips a day. 
 
Infrastructure to support this project will also drain our tax dollars.
For the first ten years, new county
taxes will cover building a new school only; and new estimated city revenues
may not cover the development's need for police, fire, garbage, recycling,
street maintenance, storm water monitoring, parks and recreation, etc. 
 
Steve Bocckino, a longtime  South Durham 
resident, describes why he is against the proposed development: "Maybe
it's just me, but 80 acres of pavement and 125 acres of bulldozed trees next to
the region's major reservoir seems a little, well, crazy.  It's a classic
battle between dollars and sense, and I'm afraid the dollars are ahead."
 
The  County Commissioners 
will hear the 751 South rezoning application at their
upcoming meeting on June 23st, at 7:00 p.m. The People’s Alliance 
encourages all residents who think this is wrong for Durham 
to let the Commissioners know that this is NOT smart growth - this is growth regardless of
taxpayer cost! The bottom line- 751 South is in the wrong place. 
 
 
 
Details of the People’s Alliance“Relay Race for a Paycheck”
Thursday, June 17th
 
4:30Parking lot behind 401 North Driver Street ( Holton  Career Resource Center )
4:45  Main
& Morning Glory (1 mile marker), at the Golden Belt parking lot
5:00201 Main Street, where the County  Commissioners meet (1.6 mile
marker)
5:15 At the far side of the intersection of
Blackwell & Morehead (2.2 mile marker) at the entrance to the American
Tobacco Trail (children’s run)
5:20at the bridge - continue the run on the
Tobacco Trail
5:35at Otis St .  crossing at
(approx) 3.4 mile marker
5:50  at the
intersection with Fayetteville (4.2
mile marker
6:05at the south side of the intersection with
Cornwallis. (5.3 mile marker)
6:20at the intersection with Pearson Street (6.3 mile marker).  
6:35 at the intersection with Woodcroft Parkway (7.5 mile
marker)
6:50at the corner of Herndon Rd & Fayetteville
Street in front of P.F. Chang’s (8.8 miles).
7:05at the Fayetteville 
intersection with Massey Chapel Road ,
at the fire hydrant in front of the Children’s Campus (9.5 miles) 
7:20at the intersection with South Heritage Drive (10.2 miles) (portions no
sidewalk).
7:30END at 8606 Fayetteville Street(yellow farmhouse, home of Judy Bailes. Ends behind house by garden (11 miles).  
 
 
Kate Fellman
 
DurhamPeople's Alliance
1821 Green St. Suite 102
Durham, NC27705
(919) 682-7777
durhampa at mindspring.com
www.durhampa.org


      
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