Hillsborough Street has been under constant construction and renovation for months, making it difficult for businesses to prosper and decreasing the ease of accessibility to campus for students, but over the past few weeks, new walkways have been implemented to allow pedestrians access to campus from the street, leading to increased business for restaurants.
According to the Hillsborough Street Partnership, Hillsborough Street will be converted into a two lane section with a median from Gardner to Oberlin. A two-lane roundabout will be added at the intersection of Hillsborough and Pullen, and a single roundabout will be added at the intersection of Oberlin and Pullen.
Ryan Thomann, a sophomore in chemistry and resident of North Hall, said the aesthetics of the road have improved.
“It’s a lot better than looking at dirt everywhere,” he said.
In addition to the new pavement, construction workers have also created more walkways for students. ”I used a walkway earlier today and it was great. It is a lot simpler to walk directly to my class instead of having to walk all the way to the Bell Tower just so I can turn around to walk back to Winston,” Thomann said.
Adam Schulte, a junior in sports management, said, “You could only get to campus through certain places because the sidewalks were blocked off.”
Schulte, like others, parks his vehicle behind Hillsborough Street and is grateful for the additional walkways.
“The new walkways make it easier to dodge traffic while creating shorter and quicker routes to class,” he said.
On the other side of Hillsborough Street, Alan Lovette, the owner of Melvin’s, Five O’Clock Sports Bar and a member of the Hillsborough Street Partnership, said business has picked up and students tend to enjoy the openness of the newly renovated restaurant. Melvin’s recently added a patio and took out the tinted glass so people passing by could see inside.
Lovette also said to increase business and allow Hillsborough Street to flourish, more parking needs to be implemented so customers can get to businesses. The street has 77 parking spaces until construction is complete, when 100 spaces will be added.
Lovette said there also needs to be at least a 100 foot buffer around the University to keep beggars away and ensure safety.
David Prescott, a sophomore in aerospace engineering, said beggars on the street are a major turn-off to him.
“I hate being begged for my Jimmy John’s as soon as I walk out,” Prescott said.
Lovette also wants restaurants to be on the University’s meal plan. Lovette said Franklin Street restaurants are included on UNC student’s meal plans, which creates a sustainable profit for those businesses.
