Dream Up Downtown Walks

Meet at University Baptist Garden (@corner of Franklin/Columbia) 6:00pm

Paving Our Pathways: Sept. 6, 6:00pm

Explore businesses and places downtown where individuals are developing projects that will reshape our community. We'll focus on sites accessed through pedestrian pathways and examine the need for shorter block lengths in our very linear downtown. What we put into spaces - and how we configure them - will dictate our downtown’s future. Hosted by Nathan Heuning.

Inspiring Innovative Spaces: Oct. 4, 6:00pm - Facebook Event

With arts and tourism being significant economic drivers for all of Orange County; and downtown Chapel Hill and the University being the draw for both – arts-related spaces and businesses downtown draw national attention. We’ll explore how public and private cultural arts spaces are key to the sharing of ideas and creativity. Hosted by Molly DeMarco.

Culinary Cultural Richness: Nov. 1, 6:00pm

We boast over 80 food establishments in downtown Chapel Hill; with representation of numerous ethnic cuisines and styles and a booming farm-to-fork culture. We have two James Beard Foundation winners across the street from each; as well as two breweries, a distillery, a wine bar, and specialty cocktail bar. We’ll explore our vibrant ethnic food establishments and discuss how high-density of a built environment is a place in which people from different backgrounds frequently interact. Hosted by Jared Cates.

One-Stop Living: Dec. 6, 6:00pm
Facebook Event

Downtown is rising into the sky with mixed-use developments; incorporating residential and commercial aspects. And more are on the way. Our downtown is increasingly desirable for people who want to live in an urban environment, but can they always afford to? We’ll explore a spectrum of businesses that make it possible to truly live & work downtown and have your needs met; while also discussing the need for affordable housing to truly have diverse neighborhoods. Hosted by Crystal Fisher.

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody’”

— Janes Jacobs, urban activist and author

Do you enjoy getting to know your town and neighbors? Want to participate in meaningful conversations about the social and built future of downtown Chapel Hill? Simply want to get an insiders perspective of our downtown?

Join your fellow community members for a series of four Dream Up Downtown Walks meant to encourage discussion about and exploration of downtown Chapel Hill; all based on the principles of urban activist Jane Jacobs.

These are not guided tours! Considered 'moving conversations' each walk will explore unique aspects of our downtown through an urban planning perspective meant to foster connections with space and others. The walks are themed to encourage people to embrace the downtown's strengths, while also dreaming up ways our downtown could have more of what we desire like diversity, mixed-use, and density.

The walks will begin at University Baptist Church's Memorial Garden at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets (100 S. Columbia Street) at 6PM, yet each walk will follow a different path through downtown.

Background on Jane Jacob's Walks:

Jane Jacobs was an urban activist who lived from 1916 to 2006. She introduced ground-breaking ideas about how cities function, evolve and fail by writing about parks, buildings, residences, and self-organization. Jacobs advocated higher density in cities, short blocks, mixed-use zoning, and meaningful open spaces for public use - all of which will be explored in the Dream Up Downtown walks.

A firm believer in the importance of local residents having input on how their neighborhoods develop, Jacobs encouraged people to familiarize themselves with their cities. It was in the spirit of Jacobs' ideals that community volunteers joined with the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership to dream up these walks!

The Dream Up Downtown walks are part of nation-wide program through the Center for the Living City, a nonprofit that celebrates the influential ideas of Jacobs by helping communities organize walks to educate citizens on their communities. These Jane Jacob's Walks have taken place in cities across the US, including Denver, Austin, New York, Austin, Philadelphia and Charlotte.