People
The following table shows that Carrboro has a greater percentage of Latinos as compared to surrounding communities. This is mainly due to the abundance of low rent housing.
Ethnic Group Composition -2000
White African American Latino
Carrboro 72.7% 13.9% 12.3%
Chapel Hill 78.0% 14.0% 4.5%
Orange County 78.0% 14.0% 4.5%
North Carolina 72.1% 21.9% 4.7%
Income
The gap between income levels clearly displays that the distribution of income is mostly held by 28.6% of the populations, those whom own homes. 19.0% of the population is below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over (2000).
Median Per Capita Income - 2000
Homeowners Renters Discrepancies
Carrboro $70,148 (28.6%) $27,614 (63.5%) $42,534 (-34.9%)
North Carolina $46,287 (61.6%) $26,140 (27.2%) $20,147 (34.4%)
Education
Employment
The percentage of individuals employed in the (cleverly worded) Accommodations and Food Services industry is twice the size of the surrounding community.
Economic Proposals
Proposals prior to this report :
Five projects are in Carrboro’s development pipeline at the time of this report. One large mixed used development (66 acres) has been approved as well as a new commercial office building. Three projects have been proposed but not yet approved by the town. In addition to the large mixed-use development, the other four projects would add Regional Technology Strategies approximately 500,000 square feet of additional space if completed, a significant increase in the town’s commercial property. Table 12 lists these projects.
300 E Main(Downtown)
A mix of offices, retail shops, apartments and possibly a hotel has been proposed by the town to be built over 416,660 sq ft of this roughly 650,000 sq. ft. area.
201 Maple Ave (Downtown)
Currently a parking lot the town has suggested 47,588 sq ft to be turned into a mix of offices, retail and residential areas
1318 Homestead (Northern Transition Area)
Surrounding the 1,822,500 sq. ft. (shown above) 66.74 acres has been APROVED for development. Subdivision containing single family homes, townhomes and apartments and 20 commercial lots are to be built here.
Renee Lynne Ct
(Off Smith Level Rd.)
9,000 sq ft Approved -Part of the Rock Hill Center commercial subdivision. Three buildings have been completed and an additional two have been proposed and approved.
New Proposed Developments:
Outside of downtown there are more than 100 acres of commercially-zoned parcels. Appendix 4 provides a list of all of Carrboro’s vacant commercial parcels and their permitted uses.
Regional Technology Strategies 33 It is useful to analyze more specifically the different commercial nodes in Carrboro—their assets and challenges, as well as their suitability for various types of businesses.
Downtown Development
In addition to being an attractor for businesses due to its unique nature, downtown also represents the most environmentally sustainable path for commercial development in town. Downtown is walkable, meaning that employees of companies could drive to
work and walk to lunch, an option that doesn’t exist in most parts of the Triangle. Also, public transportation links and good bike lane access encourage non-car travel to the downtown.
With the kinds of developments proposed to this area, how long will the positive aspects like these last? Is the “most environmentally sustainable” really where we want to draw the line? Also further traffic to this area will create an impossible parking problem. Going downtown will become more of a hassle than the current pleasure most residents describe.
The tree lines and unused parking lot space shown here are other places of suggested development.
