Orange County residents debate benefits of urbanization

Bill Livengood first visited Chapel Hill in the 1950s when he played on the Wake Forest baseball team.

He moved here 40 years ago after getting his master’s at UNC and marrying his wife Lelia, whom he met at a University dance.

“I married a Chapel Hill girl born and raised, so we had to live in Chapel Hill,” the 79-year-old said. “It wasn’t a question.”

During his time here, Livengood has seen the street he lives on — Smith Level Road — transform from a dirt road to a busy intersection that he said can take up to 10 minutes to cross.

And according to a recently released census database, this urbanization is not exclusive to Livengood’s neighborhood.

The data shows that in little less than 30 years, Orange County’s population has grown by more than 53,000. And the number of private nonfarm establishments has almost tripled, marking the transformation of an area that once spanned a mere 72 acres.

While Livengood said he doesn’t dislike the progress he is seeing, he just doesn’t think it’s necessary.

“I’ve always lived in a small town. I don’t think all this construction is necessarily an improvement,” he said. “I don’t want or need the things that are being added to the town, and I don’t think they are appropriate in a recession.”

Chapel Hill Town Council member Penny Rich said the town will become a much more urban area in the next four to five years.

“We don’t have land to build more neighborhoods and continue to build McMansions,” she said. “It will be impossible to grow (the population) from 50,000 to the projected 80,000 without putting them someplace to live.”

Rich said this additional living space will come from current development projects like 140 West Franklin and University Square, which will include high-rise condominiums, apartments and retail stores.

Rich, who has lived in Chapel Hill for 14 years, said she has watched the town undergo immense changes. Rich said she supports development, but she thinks the town needs to determine what its vision will be, specifically how it will support families.

“I have seen this place growing and growing. The town wins so many awards, and so many people want to come live here,” she said. “The town moving toward a more urban landscape is a smart push.”

Orange County Economic Development Specialist Dottie Schmitt said in addition to economic progress, the county is also focusing on adding agriculture and infrastructure to areas that have not seen as much growth.

“Both the town of Chapel Hill and the county have made a point to make sure the quality of life is attractive,” she said. “With all the parks and cultural activities we are able to attract people from different demographics.”

A mother of two, Tammy Samuelson decided to move to Chapel Hill from Kentucky after completing her residency here.

She said the town seemed like a good place to raise a family.

“Though downtown is changing, I don’t think this will affect how many families Chapel Hill will attract,” she said.

Samuelson said the town’s continued support of public libraries, school systems, cultural opportunities and other family-oriented institutions will make Chapel Hill an attractive place to live for years to come.

“I don’t know if my kids will decide to move back here,” she said. “But if they don’t, it won’t be because Chapel Hill has become a bad place to raise a family.”

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.