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Rosemary Street Vision and Implementation Plan DRAFT Prepared By the Chapel Hill Planning Department and the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership – June 2014

Draft Rosemary Street Vision and Implementation Plan Revised June 2014

Developed from community input through the Rosemary Imagined planning process

Have thoughts, ideas, or feedback? Let us know! Contact Megan Wooley (phone: 919-969-5059) and Meg McGurk (phone: 919-967-9440) or by emailing: [email protected]

For more information about the Rosemary Imagined process, visit www.rosemaryimagined.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.rosemaryimagined.com/


Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction (coming soon!)

Chapter 2: Vision and Implementation Plans

Section 1: How to Use this Plan

Section 2: Concept for Rosemary Street

Section 3: Vision and Implementation Plan

A Place for Everyone

#1: Active Street Life #2: Affordable Housing #3: Multi-Family Housing #4: Space for Youth and Teens

Community Prosperity and Engagement

#5: Entrepreneurial and Innovation Hub

#6: Utilities and Connections #7: Basic Services and Daytime Commerce

Getting Around

#8: Bicycle Amenities #9: Trolley #10: Connectivity: For Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Drivers #11: Managed Traffic Congestion


Table of Contents continued

Good Places New Spaces

#12: Attracting Desired Uses #13: Historic and Cultural Center #14: Gathering Spaces #15: Cultural and Entertainment Space #16: Buffers Between Neighborhood and Commercial Areas #17: Design District #18: Addressing Infrastructure Gaps #19: Parking

Nurturing Our Community

#20: Green Spaces

Town and Gown Collaboration

#21: Partnership and Collaboration

Chapter 3: Onward! (coming soon!)


Section 1: How to Use This Plan


Section 1: How to Use This Plan The Rosemary Street Vision and Implementation Plan consists of two parts:

A concept for Rosemary Street; and

Twenty-one visions for the future of Rosemary Street.

CONCEPT FOR ROSEMARY STREET The concept is a map of Rosemary Street that identifies:

Potential redevelopment sites along Rosemary Street;

Locations of parks and greenways;

New pedestrian and bicycle connections as well as long-term opportunities for car connections;

And lots of other fun and neat things!

VISION AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN The Rosemary Street Vision and Implementation Plan provides twenty-one visions for the Rosemary Street corridor. Within this plan, the visions are organized by the six themes of the Chapel Hill 2020 comprehensive plan which was adopted by the Town Council in June of 2012. The Chapel Hill 2020 comprehensive plan themes are:



Getting Around

Good Places, New Spaces




How to Use This Plan continued Leads and Partners for Implementation For each vision, a lead project manager and partners are identified. The lead and partners will be the doers, or the implementation gurus, for each of the visions.

This icon indicates the lead.

This icon indicates the partners.

If your organization is interested in being a lead or a partner, let us know! All are invited to be engaged in the implementation of the plan – we welcome your energy, creativity, and ideas!

“Next Steps” – The “To Do” Items For each vision, one to three “next steps” are identified. These are the “to do” items for the lead and their partners.

This icon indicates a “next step.”

What about other ideas? Great ideas were shared throughout the process to develop this plan, and we want to capture these within the Rosemary Street Vision and Implementation Plan. Some visions contain a “Why don’t we…” section that includes creative and engaging ideas that community members imagined and dreamed.

This icon indicates an idea shared by a community member who wonders “why don’t we” try this on Rosemary Street?

Dig In! So dig in, start reading, highlighting, and deciding where you’d like to help! Does a specific vision spark your imagination? Are you excited by one of the “why don’t we” ideas? Then join in, and be a part of the movement to implement these visions for Rosemary Street! If you are interested in learning more or participating, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/rosemaryimagined

http://www.townofchapelhill.org/rosemaryimagined



The following concept was developed based on input received during the Rosemary Imagined process. From April to May of 2014, the community provided feedback about three draft concepts; then, this feedback was pulled together to create the following revised concept.

Please review the revised draft concept, and share your thoughts and ideas! What do you like about the concept? What are you concerned about? Are these concepts missing anything?

Let us know!


Section 3: Vision and Implementation Plan



Vision #1: Active Street Life Bustling, vibrant, magnetic, filled with surprising delights – These are the words that residents and visitors use to describe Rosemary Street.

Lead and Partners

Lead Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership

Partners Arts community Downtown business and property owners Downtown and neighborhood residents Economic Development Office Parks and Recreation Department and Public and Cultural Arts Office

Next Steps

Encourage business and restaurants to expand their outdoor seating and eating areas.

Expand and fund public arts programs – such as Windows on Chapel Hill and mobile street performers, musicians, and artists – to continue to bring creativity to Rosemary Street.

Why don’t we…

Provide seasonal flags and signage along Rosemary Street as a part of a branding campaign

Let stores and restaurants stretch onto sidewalks

Have “parking spaces” for food trucks

Have space for temporary public art and performances



Vision #2: Affordable Housing The Rosemary Street corridor includes many different types of housing that is affordable to low and moderate income individuals and households.

Lead and Partners

Lead Housing and Communities Department

Partners CASA Community Home Trust Development partners EmPOWERment, Inc. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County Housing for New Hope Marian Cheek Jackson Center Self-Help Credit Union’s Real Estate Team Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition

Next Steps

Identify opportunity sites for affordable housing and rezone these sites to allow housing if necessary.

Partner with affordable housing providers and development partners to provide affordable housing along Rosemary Street.

Why don’t we…

Include more affordable rental housing on Rosemary Street



Vision #3: Multi-Family Housing Rosemary Street includes multi-family housing and provides market, workforce, aging-in-place, and student housing.

Lead and Partners

Lead Economic Development Office

Partners Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Housing and Communities Department Orange County Department on Aging Self Help Credit Union’s Real Estate Team University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Next Steps

Identify opportunity sites for multi-family housing on the land use plan in the Downtown Development Framework Plan.

Rezone opportunity sites for multi-family housing, if necessary.



Vision #4: Space for Youth and Teens

Rosemary Street has physical spaces and engaging programs that attract, interest, and educate young people.

Lead and Partners Lead Partners

Parks and Recreation Department

Chapel Hill Public Library EmPOWERment, Inc. Marian Cheek Jackson Center Sacrificial Poets Street Scene Teen Center

Transit Department Town of Carrboro Teen Center Town of Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department Volunteers for Youth

Next Steps

Provide spaces for youth and teens by utilizing currently available spaces and partnering with local organizations and funders to renovate and improve spaces. Further consider the option of providing several neighborhood spaces or one centralized, full service center.

Provide youth and teen programing that is administered by multiple Town Departments, community organizations, and other municipalities.

Use social media and other creative communication tools to reach youth and teens and to provide them with information about programming, events, and other happenings.

Provide transportation opportunities for youth and teens to programs and youth-friendly spaces. Also consider creating youth-friendly transit information such as maps.

Why don’t we…

Have a restaurant that offers a culinary arts/training vocational programs for youth

Partner teens with businesses and organizations for job skills training and employment opportunities

Build a skate park or bowling alley



Vision #5: Entrepreneurial and Innovation Hub Rosemary Street, a center for creativity, growth, and connections, provides large and small physical spaces and infrastructure for start-up, expanding, and existing businesses and supports an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Lead and Partners

Lead Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership

Partners Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Chapel Hill Public Library Economic Development Office Launch Chapel Hill Orange County Economic Development Office University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Chancellor’s Office UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Next Steps

Identify opportunity sites for both large and small spaces for start-ups and expanding businesses and rezone sites to allow for commercial, retail, and office use, if necessary.

Work with Launch Chapel Hill and other partners to provide educational and networking opportunities to new and expanding businesses.

Attract a tech center to Rosemary Street that provides office space, co-working opportunities, and programs for businesses in all stages of growth.

Why don’t we…

Provide inexpensive office space for young and growing businesses

Have space for businesses graduating from Launch Chapel Hill



Vision #6: Utilities and Connections The Rosemary Street corridor has cutting-edge technology and infrastructure such as high speed internet that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.

Lead and Partners

Lead Technology Solutions Department

Partners Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown business and property owners Public Works Department Utility Providers: Duke Energy, OWASA, PSNC Energy, and AT&T

Next Steps

Identify technology and infrastructure needs for Rosemary Street and develop a plan to implement this vision.



Vision #7: Basic Services and Daytime Commerce Rosemary Street has many different businesses that are open during the day and serve everyday needs.

Lead and Partners


Partners Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown business and property owners Downtown and neighborhood residents Orange County Economic Development Office

Next Steps

Conduct a needs assessment and/or market study of the types of “daytime” and retail businesses that are needed on Rosemary Street.

Attract the following services to Rosemary Street that are desired by the community: Bank (to the west end of Rosemary Street); 24-Hour Fitness Center; Gas Station; and Grocery Store.

Attract these services and uses to the “potential redevelopment sites” as identified on the Rosemary Street concept plan.

Why don’t we…

Install a branch of the Chapel Hill Public Library on Rosemary Street


Getting Around

Vision #8: Bicycle Amenities

Rosemary Street is beloved by bicyclists of all ages and abilities because of the clearly demarcated bikes lanes, accessibility, and safety.

Lead and Partners

Lead Planning and Sustainability Department

Partners Bicycle community Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Parks and Recreation Department Public Works Department

Next Steps

(If adopted by the Town Council) - Implement the vision outlined in the Chapel Hill Bike Plan for Rosemary Street.

Develop greenways/bicycle paths on the Nunn Lane extension, the realigned Mitchell Lane to Cameron Court, the Kenan Street extension, and the Mallette Street extension as identified in the Rosemary Street concept plan.

Install bicycle-friendly stormwater drains that are safe for cyclists.

Provide improved wayfinding and signage for cyclists such as a mapping of the bicycle network throughout Town and signed bike routes to various destinations.

Why don’t we…

Partner with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to implement a bike share program

Paint the bicycle lanes according to an artist’s designs

Provide more bicycle parking on Rosemary Street


Getting Around

Vision #9: Trolley The trolley along Rosemary Street is a delight to residents, visitors, and workers and travels the length of Rosemary Street.

Lead and Partners

Lead Transit Department

Partners Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Chapel Hill and Orange County Visitors Bureau Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown business and property owners Planning and Sustainability Department

Next Steps

Conduct a feasibility review of having a trolley, or circulator bus, on Rosemary Street.

Why don’t we…

Encourage entrepreneurial ways of getting people around downtown, such as pedicabs or jitneys


Getting Around

Vision #10: Connectivity: For Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Drivers Rosemary Street is like a wheel with multiple spokes; the corridor has walkable, bikeable, and drivable connections to Franklin Street, the surrounding neighborhoods, and other areas throughout town.

Lead and Partners


Partners Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown and neighborhood residents Parks and Recreation Department Public Works Department

Next Steps

Identify formal and informal ways to connect Rosemary Street to surrounding areas and nearby amenities.

Address right-of-way needs, and acquire the right-of-way.

Develop a wayfinding system to help people understand where they are, navigate the area, and find parking.

Why don’t we…

Increase the width of the sidewalks

Increase the density on Rosemary Street to encourage more walkability


Getting Around

Vision #11: Managed Traffic Congestion Rosemary Street and the downtown area have a steadily moving flow of traffic that mingles safely with pedestrians, buses, bicycles, and other modes of transportation.

Lead and Partners

Lead Public Works Department

Partners Bicycle community Planning and Sustainability Department Transit Department

Next Steps

Address the traffic congestion downtown, especially on Columbia Street, by:

Considering rerouting or new routes for the buses

Considering possibility of building bus pull-outs

Conducting an assessment of the need for a transit center, including studying possible locations

Analyzing traffic flow and light timing

Providing clear spaces for bicyclists and pedestrians

In the short-term, connect both Nunn Lane and Kenan Street to Rosemary Street as pedestrian/bicycle connections. In the long-term, study the feasibility of connecting both Nunn Lane and Kenan Streets to Rosemary Street as car connections.



Vision #12: Attracting Desired Uses

Rosemary Street contains services, businesses, and entrepreneurial opportunities that serve residents, visitors, and business owners.

Lead and Partners


Partners Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Development partners Downtown business and property owners Downtown and neighborhood residents EmPOWERment, Inc. Orange County Economic Development Office UNC Property Office and Real Estate Development

Next Steps

Community has expressed a desire for the following businesses/services:

Affordable Housing (see Vision #2)

Bank (see Vision #7)

24-Hour Fitness Center (see Vision #7)

Gas Station (see Vision #7)

Grocery Store (see Vision #7)

Historic and Cultural Center (see Vision #13)

Multi-Family Housing (see Vision #3)

Tech Center (see Vision #5)

Parking (see Vision #19)

Attract a market and park to Lot 2; if necessary, rezone the opportunity site to allow for a market and park at this location.

Attract these uses to the areas identified as “potential redevelopment sites” on the Rosemary Street concept plan.

Why don’t we… Attract a skate park and bowling alley (see Vision

#4)

Incorporate beer gardens and a climbing center



Vision #13: Historic and Cultural Center

On Rosemary Street is located a historic and cultural center that celebrates the history and culture of the Northside neighborhood and Midway community.

Lead and Partners

Lead Housing and Communities Department

Partners Chapel Hill and Orange County Visitors Bureau Chapel Hill Public Library EmPOWERment, Inc. Marian Cheek Jackson Center Northside neighborhood and downtown residents Northside Elementary School Preservation Chapel Hill

Next Steps

Identify a location, preferably along West Rosemary Street, for the historic and cultural center and rezone the site for this use, if necessary.

Identify an organization to operate the center and manage the programs.

Work with partners to develop programs, presentations, and displays for the center.

Why don’t we…

Locate the historic and cultural center in the Midway Business Center

Use the historic and cultural center as an early voting site



Vision #14: Gathering Spaces

Residents and visitors are drawn to community gathering spaces located in the Rosemary Street corridor and spend their time relaxing, connecting, brainstorming, and enjoying life.

Lead and Partners

Lead Parks and Recreation Department

Partners Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown business and property owners Downtown and neighborhood residents Planning and Sustainability Department UNC Facilities Services

Gathering Spaces in Downtown Include: - 123 W. Franklin open space (coming soon) - 140 West Plaza - Hargraves Community Center - Linear park from Mitchell Lane to Cameron Court (as identified in Rosemary Street concept plan)

Next Steps

Develop the linear park, as identified in the Rosemary Street concept plan, along Mitchell Lane to Cameron Court into a gathering space that includes a green market and café pavilions (see Vision #20).

Program gathering spaces, such as the 140 Plaza and the green space at 123 W. Franklin Street, with activities for all ages.

When new developments are proposed and built, include green spaces and other gathering spaces in the development (see Vision #20).

Why don’t we…

Include playground equipment for kids

Have chairs in the gathering spaces that can be moved around



Vision #15: Cultural and Entertainment Space

Rosemary Street is a destination spot for cultural arts, entertainment, and recreation.

Lead and Partners

Lead Public and Cultural Arts Office, Parks and Recreation Department

Partners Chapel Hill and Orange County Visitors Bureau Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Chapel Hill Public Library Downtown business and property owners, including the Ackland Art Museum and FRANK Gallery Economic Development Office University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Next Steps

Identify the steps needed to designate Rosemary and Franklin Streets as an arts district.

Develop Rosemary Street as a place for creative enterprises and focus on attracting unique business, non-profits, and retail.

Provide live/work spaces for artists, musicians, innovators, and entrepreneurs, and invite them to have “residencies” on Rosemary Street.

Why don’t we…

Require new construction on Rosemary Street to include high profile public art to identify the area

Have more alternative venues, art galleries, and art studios



Vision #16: Buffers Between Neighborhood and Commercial Areas

A definition exists between the residences in the Northside neighborhood and the commercial uses on Rosemary Street that respects the neighborhood and provides clarity for future developments and uses.

Lead and Partners


Partners EmPOWERment, Inc. Housing and Communities Department Marian Cheek Jackson Center Northside neighborhood and downtown residents Preservation Chapel Hill

Next Steps

Place a landscaped buffer, such as trees, bushes, or attractive fencing behind the properties on Lindsay Street and the commercial properties on Rosemary Street, as shown in the Rosemary Street concept plan.

When new developments are proposed along Rosemary Street, ensure that the proposals are in keeping with the Northside Neighborhood Conservation District.

When new structures are built along Rosemary Street, incorporate setbacks and stepbacks that respect the adjacent residences.

When Roberson Street is realigned, develop a gateway to the Northside neighborhood, as shown in the Rosemary Street concept plan.

Why don’t we…

Have gateways at the entrances to the Northside neighborhood



Vision #17: Design District

Rosemary Street has a similar feel and design along its length and employs zoning tools to develop a corridor that has human-scale buildings, is compatible with the surrounding neighborhoods and uses, draws people into the area, and is a whole lot of beautiful fun.

Lead and Partners


Partners Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown business and property owners Downtown and neighborhood residents

Next Steps

Develop zoning and design guidelines for Rosemary Street that identifies possible land uses, the form, and character of additions and new buildings.

Possible new zoning uses suggested in this plan include zoning for:

Affordable Housing (see Vision #2)

Commercial and office space for entrepreneurial businesses (see Vision #5)

Green spaces (see Vision #20)

Historic and Cultural Center (see Vision #13)

Market and Park on Lot 2 (see Vision #12)

Multi-Family Housing (see Vision #3)

Upzone surface parking lots (see Vision #19)

Note: The current zoning may allow these uses, and the parcels may not need to be rezoned to accommodate these uses.

Why don’t we…

Have space for innovative architecture

Encourage the heights of buildings to follow the grade of the street



Vision #18: Addressing Infrastructure Gaps

Rosemary Street has continuous public works infrastructure such as easily-navigable sidewalks and bike lanes and is visually attractive because of the buried powerlines and streetscapes.

Leads and Partners

Lead Public Works Department

Partners Business Management Department Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown business and property owners Parks and Recreation Department Planning and Sustainability Department Technology Solutions Department Utility Providers: Duke Energy, OWASA, PSNC Energy, and AT&T

Next Steps

Address right-of-way issues needed to acquire ownership and make improvements to the streetscapes.

Update information from Duke Energy on the feasibility and costs of converting from overhead and underground power (i.e., burying the powerlines).

Develop an infrastructure plan for solid waste, recycling, organics, and grease for Rosemary and Franklin Streets.

Review lighting needs on Rosemary Street through a “light audit” and consider both traditional and non-traditional ways to provide more visibility along Rosemary Street.

Identify designated loading and unloading zones for delivery trucks, and update Article V: Parking Meters, Section 21-35: Loading and unloading of delivery vehicles of the Municode to identify specific times for loading and unloading.

Explore the options for municipal financing of needed infrastructure.

Why don’t we… Include electric car charging stations

Install distinctive street lights



Vision #19: Parking Available Downtown Parking Rosemary Street has many parking opportunities that enhance the viability of downtown and include well-hidden parking decks that are compatible with the surrounding neighborhoods and uses. Better Utilization of Surface Parking Lots The previously-existing surface parking lots on Rosemary Street now contain human-scale buildings that abut the sidewalk.

Lead and Partners Lead Partners

Parking Services Division, Police Department

Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown business and property owners Economic Development Office

Planning and Sustainability Department University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill UNC Department of Public Safety

Next Steps Eased Downtown Parking Needs

Reevaluate the Parking Study conducted in 2008, and assess the current parking capacity and needs.

Identify the current and future needs, and build parking to meet these demands. In the long-term, this goal should not be achieved through surface parking lots.

Conduct a downtown parking assessment at the same time as a comprehensive on-street parking study is conducted for the Northside and Pine Knolls neighborhoods, as identified in the Northside and Pine Knolls Community Plan (adopted in January of 2012).

Better Utilization of Surface Parking Lots

In the short-term, identify opportunities to increase metered public parking on surface lots.

For the long-term, rezone surface parking lots for higher uses, if necessary.

Why don’t we…

Provide designated scooter parking

Include parking for expectant parents and families with small children

Use surface parking lots for festivals and street fairs, as identified in the Chapel Hill Downtown Streetscape and Lighting Master Plan (adopted June 2009)



Vision #20: Green Spaces

Along Rosemary Street are green spaces where people of all ages and abilities enjoy themselves.

Lead and Partners

Lead Parks and Recreation Department

Partners Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Downtown business and property owners Downtown and neighborhood residents Planning and Sustainability Department Public Works Department

Next Steps

Develop the linear park, as identified in the Rosemary Street concept plan, along Mitchell Lane to Cameron Court into a gathering space that includes a green market and café pavilions (see Vision #14).

Connect the park at the ITS Building with the linear park and green market/café pavilions.

Formalize the parklet that is located at the corner of Rosemary and Henderson Streets so that it is accessible and inviting.

When new developments are proposed and built, include green spaces and other gathering spaces in the development (see Vision #14).

Why don’t we…

Create a Civil Rights Memorial in one of the green spaces that honors local civil rights leaders; this could adjoin the historic and cultural center

Include a sculpture garden in the park

Encourage business to install green roofs, green walls, and solar panels



Vision #21: Partnership and Collaboration Rosemary Street is the vibrant, magical place it is because of the visions and efforts of many partners, including the partnership between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Town of Chapel Hill.

Lead and Partners

Lead Facilities Services at UNC Chapel Hill Planning and Sustainability Department at the Town of Chapel Hill

Partners Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Economic Development Office UNC Local Relations, Office of the Chancellor UNC Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life & Community Involvement Housing and Communities Department

Next Steps

Partner on efforts to beautify and bring energy to Rosemary Street such as:

Developing entrepreneurial opportunities for businesses in all stages of growth (see Vision #5)

Repurposing surface parking lots (see Vision #19)

Connecting the ITS park with the linear park along Mitchell Lane and Cameron Court (see Vision #20)

And other awesome projects along Rosemary Street

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