Just got to write up today's meeting on Glen Lennox -- twice. First a short story for tomorrow's N&O and then a longer piece for Wednesday's CH News. (Trick is making that second one fresh by the time you read it; tell me how I did on Wednesday.)

Anyway, it's an interesting story. Grubb told residents his company needs to redevelop to make money. He said they spend $100,000 marketing the half-century old cottages. In other words, despite the love many Chapel Hillians have for them, they're not first, or second or third, on most renters' lists. At least not until recently. It's only with the recession, Grubb said, that occupancy has reached the mid-90 percent level.

He's an interesting guy. Skinny and talks about his mom a lot (how she would have opposed that first redevelopment plan, the one with three parking decks and a high-rise hotel). He listened patiently for two hours and then stayed to talk with everyone who came up to him afterward. He freely admits the company blew it the first time around.

And for now anyway, he's in no rush. The recession has slowed the development business and given him time to think about Glen Lennox he says he didn't have a year and a half ago. And he says it's a two way street from here out. If he can redevelop part of the property, he thinks he can preserve the affordable housing on other parts.

"Glen Lennox has a heart and soul," he says. "[But] we can't preserve it the way it is."  

Clay Grubb, president of Grubb Properties, tried to get the Chapel Hill Town Council to hold off on new zoning rules for the Glen Lennox area last week. He lost, at least for now. But in asking for a delay in the Neighborhood Conservation District process, Grubb gave the community a better understanding of why the company wants to tear down the  cottage  apartments that for many people define Chapel Hill. We're going to run his letter to the town in Sunday's Chapel Hill News, but in the meantime here is an excerpt. 

"The apartments, initially constructed in 1949, are outdated and compete poorly in today’s marketplace. They are undersized in comparison with other competing apartments in the area and provide insufficient bathroom and kitchen space. They do not provide adequate electrical outlets for today’s technology-driven lifestyle or sufficient ambient lighting and they are extremely inefficient with respect to energy use. They do not comply with the accessibility standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and some of the building materials used at the time of construction have since been deemed hazardous.

"All of these factors depress our rental rates and force us to offer expensive and ever-increasing concessions to maintain occupancy.
At the same time, maintenance expenses increase every year just to keep the apartments habitable. They are plagued with water infiltration issues and moisture control problems.

"If Glen Lennox is not allowed to change in a way that benefits the Town of Chapel Hill then it will continue to decline."

Chapel Hill town staff is recommending the Town Council not act on a request for a development moratorium on N.C. 54 East Wednesday night.

The town Planning Board had voted 6-0 for a moratorium.

The staff based its decision on two factors: First, the council is already planning to discuss the future of the corridor this September. Second, the council could call a public hearing on a moratorium as late as Nov. 10 without risking any additional large-scale development there.

You can read our story about the Planning Board vote here. Chairman Geoge Cianciolo said there wasn't much discussion because everyone thought it was a good idea.

But in a memo to the council, staffers don't recommend a moratorium now because it's not an urgent need. The big projects under way -- Castalia at Meadowmont, Woodmont and others -- would not be affected by a temporary development ban.

The biggest project on the horizon -- the redevelopment of the Glen Lennox neighborhood won't come back to the council until Nov. 17. That gives the town plenty of time to have its September discussion about N.C. 54 East and still consider a moratorium if needed.

You can read the town staff memo here.

Ernie Dollar, director of the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill, has set up an e-mail address to receive citizen comments about Glen Lennox. He wants to know what people think about plans to replace the current 400 apartments and shopping center with an upscale mix of multi-story homes, office and shops. Here's an exxcerpt from a letter, which he has sent to Glen Lennox residents and others:

"Many folks outside the neighborhood and email loop are still very clueless of the situation and don't consider the dangerous precedent that demolition would have for the rest of Chapel Hill. I think if more news of the redevelopment reached more folks, especially to the great number of those who have a connection to the Glen Lennox, it would tug at their heartstrings and garner support."

"When I talk to leaders in the community, who are curious about the situation, they ask me: How many folks want to save Glen Lennox? Are they homeowners or tenants? Is it really historic? Ultimately, they ask me, "Is it worth saving?" It is a tough sale at times. But the more I learn about the community, and its great history, the more people I hear from, and the more organizations who are involved, promoting preservation of Glen Lennox as a valuable historical asset to Chapel HIll becomes much easier."

To send your comments to the Preservation Society e-mail saveglenlennox@mail.com

Sunday's column about Glen Lennox drew this comment from UNC journalism professor Phil Meyer:

"I've noticed something that might make a pattern. When my youngest daughter was a UNC senior, she lived in the apartment building on Franklin across from McCorkle Place. It has since been converted to luxury condos. When she graduated and got a local job, she lived in Glen Lennox, and now that location has been declared too good for people of modest means. Is increasing income inequality (a national trend for three decades) hitting Chapel Hill and pushing students out of the campus-convenient real estate?"

"Two cases don't make a trend, but you might have noticed others -- either recent or pending. Could be worth watching."