AGENDA #9b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Procedures for Sykes Street Action Strategy and Resolution of Appreciation
DATE: May 21, 2001
The purpose of this memorandum is to propose to the Council procedures to implement the Action Strategy for the Sykes Street Area prepared by students from the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning. The following streets are included in the study area: Sykes Street; Craig Street, Bynum Street; Gomains Avenue; Edwards Alley; Mitchell Lane; Whitaker Street, and Nunn Street. Please see Attachment 1 for a map of the study area.
The attached resolution expresses the Council’s appreciation to Dr. William Rohe and the five students of the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of City and Regional Planning that worked on this project.
On January 8, 2001, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Town to participate in and provide technical assistance and staff support in an advisory capacity to develop an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street Area (please see Attachment 2). The Orange Community Housing Corporation, EmPOWERment, Inc., the Community Land Trust in Orange County, neighborhood residents and the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning class of Dr. William Rohe also participated in this process. The Council agreed to provide $500 of Community Development funds for class expenses related to the project.
DISCUSSION
Since January 2001, a Steering Committee consisting of representatives of EmPOWERment, Inc., the Orange Community Housing Corporation, the Sykes Street neighborhood, and the Town (including representatives from the Manager’s Office, and the Housing, Planning, and Police Departments) have met to discuss a variety of issues facing the Sykes Street neighborhood. The students from the Department of City and Regional Planning discussed their process for obtaining information about the community, including a door-to-door survey of residents of the study area.
The report provides an analysis of this section of the Northside community and recommendations to improve living conditions in the Sykes Street area.
NEXT STEPS
We recommend that the Council receive and refer this report to the Manager, with instructions to return to the Council with a follow-up report in the Fall that responds to the recommendations and provides options for how to proceed.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution expressing appreciation to Dr. William Rohe and the five students of the UNC Chapel Hill Department of City and Regional Planning that worked on this project.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Map of the Sykes Street Study Area (p. 4).
2. January 8, 2001 Report to the Mayor and Town Council (p. 5).
A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO DR. WILLIAM ROHE, KELLY COCHRAN, CHRIS ESTES, SELINA HINES, DEVON IDSTROM, AND DEEPTHI JAIN OF THE UNC CHAPEL HILL DEPARTMENT OF CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING (2001-05-21/R-5)
WHEREAS,on January 8, 2001 the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Town to participate in a process to develop an action strategy for the Sykes Street area of the Northside neighborhood; and
WHEREAS,Dr. William Rohe organized a class of UNC Chapel Hill Department of City and Regional Planning Master’s students to work on the Sykes Street Action Strategy during the Spring 2001 semester;
WHEREAS,under Dr. Rohe’s direction, the students surveyed the residents of the Sykes Street area, organized community meetings, met with stakeholders, and developed an Action Strategy that includes recommendations to improve the quality of life in the Northside neighborhood;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill expresses its appreciation to Dr. William Rohe, Kelly Cochran, Chris Estes, Selina Hines, Devon Idstrom, and Deepthi Jain, for their assistance and leadership with the development of the Sykes Street Action Strategy.
This the 21st day of May, 2001.