An N.C. 54 restaurant emerged victorious Wednesday and will keep its larger-than-life photos of UNC coach Dean Smith and basketball superstar Michael Jordan.
Chapel Hill's Public Arts Commission voted unanimously that the window art does not fall under the town’s sign ordinance, land-use management ordinance or Community Design Commission rules.
Commission member Nancy Kitterman said it also doesn’t meet the town’s public art mural guidelines, because the photos are posted inside the Tobacco Road restaurant’s windows.
“If you put a giant sculpture on your front yard, I can see it every day. It’s your property. It’s your business, and basically, if I don’t like it, I don’t have to look at it,” she said.
The town’s review started with a Glen Lennox resident’s letter to the editor. Restaurant owner Brian Amra said the 12-foot by 22-foot vinyl photos block a view of the kitchen and will be there a long time.
