Old Blog post, but I just found it -
Pittsboro Place: We’ll take itAugust 28, 2007
http://billyliggett.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/pittsboro-place-well-take-it/A crowd of protesters crowded Town Hall in Pittsboro Monday night to speak out against Pittsboro Place, the proposed 1.3 million-square-feet mega-mall and residential area that would provide an economic jolt to the growing Chatham County town.
The protesters were heard loud and clear, and in the end the Town Board voted to approve half of the proposed development, allowing for much of the commercial property but nixing much of the residential plans.
According to Tuesday’s story in The Herald, the development’s director, Bill Jackson, was somewhat OK with the decision, saying he was ready to get started. But before he does so … I’d like to ask him to consider Sanford.
Unlike Pittsboro, I think Sanford is capable of supporting this proposed retail monster. If it were to go up along U.S. 1 (say … the area where 1 will meet the upcoming 421 Bypass), then you would get shoppers from Raleigh, Southern Pines, Fayetteville AND Pittsboro if it offers what people can’t get nearby.
Think about it … the current location in Pittsboro is less than 20 minutes from South Point, the large mall/movie theater/food court located on the southern end of Durham. My wife and I drive to South Point because of Nordstrom and the Apple iStore there, and that’s a half hour for us.
I understand Pittsboro residents’ concerns, and I’m not faulting them for standing up for what they believe in. They want to preserve the town’s small-town atmosphere. I think Sanford wants the same, but if you’re already tearing down land for a shiny new bypass, why not make it a little more worth the trouble.
I’m sure there are flaws in my plan. But as a Sanford resident, I would love to have access to a mall where I don’t have to drive a half-hour to get there. I’m sure Pittsboro residents want the same thing … they’d just rather it be 15 minutes away and not in their backyards.
Entry Filed under: Sanford. .
2 Comments Add your own
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1. Kim Pritt | August 28, 2007 at 11:54 pm
I agree - adding a mall with big name anchor stores on the north end of Sanford would be a great way to draw people and their spendable cash into Sanford, while balancing the retail growth we’re seeing with WalMart, etc. on the South end!!! It would also keep more of our residents from having to go to other communities to shop. Don’t get me wrong — I shop Sanford/Lee County first and there is very little I find I may need to look elsewhere for, but I know there are people who enjoy the mall experience and, unfortunately travel to Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville, or other places to get that! A large mall would be a huge boost to Sanford!!!
And — I have the perfect name for it, too — instead of “Pittsboro Place”, they could call it “Sanford Station” to play off Sanford’s railroad roots - it could have a railroad theme and everything!
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2. Garrick Taylor | August 30, 2007 at 4:25 am
I agree that more shopping choices would be a real plus for our area. More choices mean more of our residents money would stay here (and we might draw some outside shopping dollars too). I hope that any new development that comes our way is done in a way to keep our small town feel, though.
I would also like to see some of our older retail centers revitalized (Kendale comes to mind). The older shopping centers would make great community centers, libraries, or maybe even schools. In TN where I used to live I they turned an abandoned SKY CITY shopping center into a wonderful library at a cost much less than building a new building.
