CARRBORO, NC -- A community-driven vision for the future of the Downtown Area of Carrboro is ready for viewing! This plan seeks to advance racial equity and address climate action and is a key implementation step of the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan.
Thanks to all the community input, a draft of the Carrboro Downtown Area Plan is ready to share! It expresses what the consultant team and the Town heard from community members – a desire for a vibrant, inclusive and multi-modal future for the downtown area. Over the past year, you have weighed in – at more than 20 events and public input opportunities -- saying you want to see outdoor spaces where people can gather, affordable housing and business spaces, vibrant art and entertainment options, more plants and trees, and a mix of uses.
Come flip through the Carrboro Downtown Area Plan at a variety of community updates set for the following:
- Friday, Aug. 1 – 5 to 8 p.m. – Carrboro in Motion at Collins Crossing Apartments, 501 Jones Ferry Road
- Saturday, Aug. 2 – 12 to 4 p.m. - St. Paul’s AME Church, 101 N. Merritt Mill Road
- Saturday, Aug. 9 – 12 to 4 p.m. - Community School of People Under Six – 102 Hargraves Street
- Friday, Aug. 15 – 5 to 8 p.m. - Carrboro in Motion at Royal Park Apartments – 501 Highway 54 Bypass
- Sunday, Aug. 24 – noon to 6 p.m. - Fiestas en la Calle (come visit the Town of Carrboro table) –– W. Weaver Street
- View the draft plan online at https://engage.carrboronc.gov/carrboro-downtown-area-plan
Carrboro’s Character Areas
The Carrboro Downtown Area Plan analyzes the commercial section of downtown Carrboro, surrounding residential areas, and the Jones Ferry Road corridor. The plan divides the study area into character areas with associated examples of how they could be developed in the future.
- Downtown Core – This area includes the primary commercial districts generally along Jones Ferry Road, Main Street, Weaver Street and Greensboro Street. New developments should be multi-story, with special consideration for the historic context and existing adjacent developments. They should be built close to the sidewalk and street and focus on improving the pedestrian experience and streetscape.
- Core Extension – This area includes the Jones Ferry Road corridor and the active railroad corridor just outside the Downtown Core. These areas have a mix of developed and undeveloped properties, including businesses and single-family and multi-family homes. There’s an opportunity to expand the existing character of the Downtown Core along the major corridors to create a continuous experience and transition to the adjacent areas. This area should include affordable housing, commercial uses like retail, office and entertainment, as well as recreation uses.
- Surrounding Neighborhoods – This area includes the transition areas of West Main, Hillsborough and Greensboro streets as they move from residential land use patterns toward gateways into the Downtown Core and Core Extension character areas. Here, it’s recommended to maintain the existing look and feel of the neighborhood while encouraging new infill development over time. New residential development should reflect the dense neighborhood pattern and complement the size and scale of existing homes.
- Lloyd Broad Neighborhood – This area encompasses the historically Black and African American neighborhood along Lloyd Street, Broad Street and Starlite Drive. This area is predominantly residential, with some long-time businesses, the Piedmont Community Health Center and Baldwin Park. Efforts should be made to increase connectivity to the Downtown Core and surrounding areas through pedestrian paths and connections to the greenway trails. Protecting and preserving this historic neighborhood is a key goal of the residents and the Northside Neighborhood Initiative. Existing and new public spaces should incorporate design elements to celebrate the neighborhood’s history.
Ideas for possible development are expressed through renderings
Development considerations are offered, at a high level, with representative renderings. The renderings serve as examples for the Town and private developers to reference during design and development discussions in the future. Here are some examples:
- Mixed-Use Development with Recreation Focus
- Mixed-Use Development Along a Greenway
- Context-Sensitive Development in the Downtown Core
- Mixed-Use Development with Quasi-Public Space
- Downtown Green Space
Community Engagement
As part of the Town’s commitment to race and equity, the planning and consulting team partnered with community organizations like El Centro Hispano, Marian Cheek Jackson Center, The ArtsCenter, Orange County Public Library, The Refugee Community Partnership, CHICLE and Carrboro Farmers’ Market to host pop-up events at longstanding Town signature events, and standalone open houses and workshops. Outreach began in summer 2024. This summer of 2025, the draft plan is being released for a period of public comment before consideration for adoption by the Town Council.
What’s a Small Area Plan?
A town’s downtown area plan document is a strategic roadmap that guides the future development and revitalization of the downtown area. It informs preparation of new development standards (the New Carrboro UDO). It serves as a comprehensive guide for land use and public improvements, while also identifying opportunities for revitalization. Essentially, it's a community-driven vision for the downtown area, outlining goals and recommendations for its growth and evolution over a specific period.
Learn more at https://engage.carrboronc.gov/carrboro-downtown-area-plan