UPDATE: University Place issued a press release on Monday, February 27, announcing a demolition ceremony will take place starting at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 6. This story, initially published on February 25, has been updated with the information.
Tenants of University Place in Chapel Hill learned of a critical next step in the mall’s redevelopment on Friday, as a timeline for the demolition of the empty Southern Season space is emerging.
A message from the mall’s management, Foundry Commercial, on Friday shared that fencing will be installed around the eastern portion of the property starting Wednesday, March 1. The area, which faces Fordham Boulevard, holds no businesses as University Place cleared it for an eventual demolition — which the mall ownership announced will begin on Monday, March 6.
According to a site plan provided by Foundry Commercial, the fencing for the demolition site will span from parking lots by the former K&W Cafeteria building down to South Estes Drive. The additions will cut off current driving access around the empty Southern Season building — which was provided as a construction zone on the western end cut off north-south access in the fall. The plans show, however, that north-south access for drivers and pedestrians will be allowed from the Circle K gas station on the corner of Fordham Boulevard and South Estes Drive to the former K&W Cafeteria.
A site plan of the planned fencing around the area of University Place set to be demolished, with an overlay of the new buildings over the current mall. The part in pink shows the portion of the central mall building set to be taken down. (Photo via Foundry Commercial and LandDesign.)
Southern Season, a gourmet food and novelties business, closed its doors on the Chapel Hill store in January 2020. Since then, additional businesses on the eastern end have either shuttered or relocated in the mall in preparation for the redevelopment. Ram Realty, the real estate development company which bought University Place in 2018, said in August 2022 it planned for demolition in the fall — but it was delayed. Earlier this month, however, a new wall was built in the interior of the mall as a safety measure for visitors once demolition begins.
On Monday, University Place shared a invitation to mall tenants detailing the start of the demolition on March 6. A private ceremony with mall leadership, Town of Chapel Hill officials and tenants will be held in the parking lot east of the empty Southern Season space. After a lunch, there will be comments from Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger and project leaders before a “Countdown to demolition” and media availability are held.
The fencing plans shared by Foundry Commercial indicate the closure is expected to last around 10 weeks during demolition before more fencing is constructed along Fordham Boulevard. At that point, construction on a hotel, parking deck and other new buildings will cut off the north-south access on the eastern end of the property.
“The work will be quite loud and will require some patience as we work through these growing pains together,” wrote Nancy Kitterman of Foundry to University Place businesses. “Parking will continue to be impacted and new traffic patterns necessitated.”
Kitterman said, though, that some of the parking constrictions on the more active side of the property may soon be alleviated. Spaces in the main parking field along South Estes Drive have been fenced or taped off as new parking islands were constructed over several weeks. Thursday, March 2 is the expected date new parking spaces in that area will be opened and accessible to visitors.
Additional construction projects at University Place includes the ongoing building of the 900 Willow apartment complex, the construction of a Fifth Third Bank branch, and a Chase bank location.
Editor’s Note: Chapel Hill Media Group is a tenant of University Place, having first moved there in 2016.
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