By Taylor Sisk
Staff Writer

“I really think that as a culture, we’re ready for a major overhaul,” says Carrboro’s Tim Peck.

Peck is the subject of a new short video produced by Linda DiLorenzo of DiLorenzo Studios, titled “Peck and Artisans.” The video focuses on Peck’s work as a general contractor and the philosophy of that work. The need for overhaul he’s referring to above is in the nature of the latter — the philosophy of work, and what

Peck sees as an ongoing cultural trend away from regard for true craft.

Peck’s concern is that the default approach to work these days is “hurry up, hurry up — and it’s hard for people to put care into their work.”

“A lot of people feel trapped in a situation where they’re just knockin’ it out,” he says, “and it’s not that much fun.”

In the video, Peck puts it this way: “People don’t get the kinds of rewards that they need internally that I think people used to get … [when] you made something and you felt good about what you made.”
“People feeling pride in their work is so important,” Peck says. “And the way things are set up, we’re just destroying that every day. We tell people that they’re not going fast enough, it costs too much … How do we be craftsmen, how do we feel good about ourselves in this day and time, when we’re just pulled on in so many ways?”

A central theme of the video is the collaborative creative process Peck assumes with his clients. Among those featured in the show are Moshi Moshi hair studio, Lantern Restaurant, 3 Cups, SandwHich, the Greenbridge project and a private residence in Carrboro. Several among these clients-cum-collaborators talk about the difficulty of a process in which appropriate attention is given to every consideration of every material, to exactingly precise craftsmanship and, bottom line, to no-compromising quality. Moreover, and apparently of equal importance to Peck, these same folks point out that, through it all, their friendship with the craftsman endured.

As subtext to the video is the unfolding of a similarly collaborative process between Peck and the filmmaker DiLorenzo. Providing voiceover, DiLorenzo says that in producing this piece she sought to “honor the craftsmanship, the knowledge of space, appreciation of beauty and attention to detail” found in work of the caliber of Peck’s, adding, “these are the tools of my craft as well.” More »

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen gave final approval to a new set of rules for downtown, clearing the way for several mixed-use projects to move forward.

The projects had been stalled because meeting the town’s requirements for open space in residential developments would have been next to impossible given the lot constraints and compact nature of the developments planned. Town rules require about 40 percent of residential projects to be open space. A request to change the rules to allow developers to count bike paths, fountains, green roofs and other amenities toward the requirement came to the town last year. Town planners and downtown projectmanagers nailed down a plan last month to create a “Downtown Livability Area,” in which the amenities can be used to satisfy the open-space requirement.

The DLA rules allow developers to reduce the amount of space required if they landscape the spaces or allow pubic access or both.

On Tuesday night at Town Hall, the board gave final approval to the plan, with an agreement to review it two years from now to make sure that the new set of formulas used to calculate the required amenity space hasn’t led to serious unforeseen consequences.

In a related matter, the board got its first look at how the town plans to deal with traffic while the first phase of downtown developments take place. With five large projects in the downtown area — from West Main Street to Roberson and Carr streets — town planners wanted to make sure that truck routes, construction-equipment staging and construction-employee parking were spelled out.

Aldermen Jacquie Gist said she wants to make sure the construction sites are properly maintained. The recent demolition of the Andrews-Riggsbee hardware store, she said, was an example of how not to do it.
Board members also emphasized that developers should be accountable for damage to the older downtown roads from heavy trucks and that residents should be notified in advance before any blasting takes place for underground parking projects and foundation work.

In other action Tuesday night, the board looked over a proposal to reduce the town’s waste stream and increase recycling, opting to move forward with plans to put stickers on rollout carts reminding residents that state law now prohibits throwing away aluminum cans. A study of the town’s contribution to the Orange County landfill showed that despite the law, Carrboro residents sent roughly 48 tons of cans to the landfill last year.

Residents will also be encouraged to fill out a town-provided form to help them get off of junk mail lists. The town has set a target of reducing junk mail sent to the landfill by 8.4 tons annually.

Also on Tuesday, the board:
• reviewed strategies for adding sustainability guidelines and improving the town’s development review process;
• agreed to support a bill filed by Rep. Verla Insko to encourage the production of “fire-safe” cigarettes which self-extinguish;
• agreed to oppose a bill that would limit how municipalities can use fiber optic networks. Mayor Mark Chilton called an effort by telecom companies to prevent towns from setting up free or reduced-fee access to the Internet “perverse.”

The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved plans to build a full-service animal services facility on Eubanks Road adjacent to the Orange County landfill.

The facility, which is estimated to cost $6.5 million, will house the animal shelter, Orange County Animal Control and the administrative division of the Animal Services Department. The divisions are now located at three separate properties.

“It’s a whole package,” said Bob Marotto, county animal services director. “It has so many elements, and they all relate to one another.”

The plans include a large adoption area, which could accommodate as many as 264 animals. The current animal shelter can hold 166 animals. More »