Rosemary Street Parking Deck (125 E. Rosemary Street)

Timeline: 

Now Open (The parking deck will begin charging for parking on Monday, November 11th.)

What's Happening?

The Rosemary Street Parking Deck is a new, six-story, 1,000-1,100 space parking deck under construction at 125 E. Rosemary Street. The new parking deck will provide around 980 public parking spaces. The deck will also include a “retail porch” along the Rosemary Street frontage to provide space for small businesses and vendors.

Why are we doing this?

The Rosemary Parking Deck project aims to address the growing parking needs in downtown Chapel Hill. With the potential addition of 800 new employees and an estimated $4.2 million in support for downtown businesses, this project is crucial for the economic development of our town. The Rosemary Parking Deck will offer increased centralized, public parking and space for small businesses and vendors. 

What's the current impact on roads and sidewalks in the area?

Pedestrian Information:

Pedestrians can use the crosswalks at the existing traffic signal intersections at S. Columbia Street and Henderson Street. The sidewalk in front of 125 E. Rosemary Street is closed. Please follow the site's detour signs.

Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and North Street Intersection Improvements:

In January 2024, the Town of Chapel Hill began construction work to improve the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and North Street near Fire Station One and Town Hall. Plans include “squaring up” the four points of the intersection to improve safety. A contractor will install sidewalks, marked crosswalks, and a traffic signal. This work complements the Rosemary Street parking deck project, which will include an exit that allows drivers to leave the deck in the direction of this intersection. See below for more information. 

Intersection Improvements at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and North Street

Timeline: 

January 2024–November 2024 (updated)

What's happening?

In January 2024, the Town of Chapel Hill began construction work to improve the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and North Street near Fire Station One and Town Hall. Plans include "squaring up" the four points of the intersection to improve safety. A contractor will install sidewalks, marked crosswalks, and a traffic signal.

In May 2024, the project was paused due to unforeseen utility conflicts, but was restarted in June 2024. From June 2024 through October 2024, the Town will work with OWASA (Orange County Water and Sewer Authority) and Duke Energy to address any utility needs for the improvement.

What's the impact on roads and sidewalks?

We expect Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to remain open during construction; however, delays are possible at times.

During construction, N. Columbia Street will be closed to drivers at Carr Street. Drivers should use Stephens Street as a detour. We expect N. Columbia Street to remain open to pedestrians during much of the project.

We ask that everyone slow down and be careful while moving through the area. 

Why are we doing this?

In addition to safety improvements, this work complements the Rosemary Street parking deck project, which will include an exit that allows drivers to leave the deck in the direction of this intersection.

This project also advances the Town Council's strategic focus areas and goals of a safe, connected community, including pedestrian improvements that are part of the future North/South Bus Rapid Transit project. It also aligns with the Council's commitment to economic and financial stewardship, which includes a focus on downtown revitalization.

June 18, 2024

The Rosemary Street Parking Deck (125 E. Rosemary Street) is scheduled to open in August 2024. This new parking deck will provide around 980 public parking spaces. The deck will also include a “retail porch” along Rosemary Street to provide space for small businesses and vendors.

Current impact on roads and sidewalks: Pedestrians can use the crosswalks at the existing traffic signal intersections at S. Columbia Street and Henderson Street. The sidewalk in front of 125 E. Rosemary Street is closed. Please follow the site's detour signs.

Intersection improvements at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and North Street are expected to be completed in August 2024. Plans include "squaring up" the four points of the intersection to improve safety. This work complements the Rosemary Street parking deck project, which will include an exit that allows drivers to leave the deck in the direction of this intersection.

Current impact on roads and sidewalks: During construction, N. Columbia Street will be closed to drivers at Carr Street. Drivers should use Stephens Street as a detour.

Apr. 15, 2024 

E. Rosemary Street Reopens to Thru-Traffic

E. Rosemary Street was closed so that crews working on the parking deck project could safely lift large portions of the building into place. The street closure gave crews room to safely work, and it kept community members at a safe distance. During the street closure, a sidewalk remained open for people who were moving through the area.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and we’re excited the street is open again – for all users.

The parking deck is on track to open this summer.

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Aug. 17, 2023

E. Rosemary Street Temporarily Closing to Thru Traffic

Starting August 21, a contractor for the Town will close E. Rosemary Street from the entrance of the Rosemary/Columbia Lot to the entrance of the Wallace Deck. The closure will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week for about six months.

The nearest detours for drivers are Columbia, Franklin, and Henderson streets.

A sidewalk along the East Rosemary Street closure will remain open to pedestrians; however, there will be times when the contractor will briefly pause pedestrian traffic to move equipment. There will be a marked pedestrian detour around the project, which will provide ADA accessibility.

The Rosemary/Columbia Street Lot and the Wallace Deck will remain open. The Rosemary/Columbia Street Lot will be accessible from Columbia Street. The Wallace Deck will be accessible from Henderson Street. For more parking information visit parkonthehill.com

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Nov. 5, 2021 

From Nov. 8th until Dec. 6th, East Rosemary Street will be closed to thru-traffic weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Access to the Wallace Deck will be located at the Henderson St. side of E. Rosemary St. only.  During this time, motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians should follow any detours and posted road signs.

Town staff will monitor parking and neighborhood traffic conditions as people adjust to the changes.

The nearest detours are Columbia, Franklin, and Henderson streets.

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Oct. 8, 2021

A contractor will reduce East Rosemary Street to one lane between North Columbia and Henderson streets weekdays from Oct. 11^th through Oct. 22^nd for utility work. This schedule is dependent on favorable weather.

The closures will begin at 9 a.m.; the road will be reopened by 4 p.m. each day.

Flaggers will direct motorists through the closure. Sidewalk users should detour around this closure.

Click to enlarge

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Town leaders and community partners gathered Tuesday, Sept. 14th, to ceremonially break ground on the project.

Click to enlarge

Frequently Asked Questions 

• September 20, 2021-Public Information Meeting
  • Agenda and materials
  • Rosemary Parking Deck Update
    
• June 3, 2021-125 E. Rosemary Parking Deck – GMP Review
  
• May 2021-Public Information Meeting
  • Presentation Materials
• November 2021 – Council to consider authorizing a new office building; Council to consider acceptance/management of new parking deck.
• April/May 2021-May 2022 – Anticipated construction of new parking deck
• December 2020-
               Opinion of Probable Construction Costs - Walker Engineering
               Projections for parking demand and financial - Walker Consulting
• November 1, 2020 – Submission of formal office application/concept plan
• November 6, 2020-Council Committee on Economic Sustainability (CCES)- to discuss traffic impact analysis and deck design. (Link to meeting materials and video)
• October 2020 - Final TIA - 
             Executive Summary       
             Complete TIA Report
  
• September 9, 2020 –Council review Economic Development Agreement (Link to Agenda Item)  (Staff presentation)
  • Traffic Impact Analysis and Executive Summary
  • Economic Development Agreement
  • UNC Letter of Intent
  • Temporary License Agreement
  • Improvements Agreement
  • Wallace Deck Lease
• August 2020 –  CDC review of Office concept plan
• June 5, 2020 – CCES to discuss any outstanding issues with East Rosemary Parking Deck/Redevelopment
• May 13, 2020 – Council Work Session
• May 2020 – Deal Review–
  • Grubb Properties Deal Review - Noell Consulting
  • Office ROC and Financing model -Noell Consulting
  • Preliminary Economic Analysis of East Rosemary Street Parking - Rod Stevens, Business Street
    
• May 8, 2020 – CCES to discuss design or parking deck and TIA
• April 22, 2020 – Council review garage concept plan
• March 2020 – Advisory Boards to review Conditional Zoning application
• March 2020 – Chapel Hill East Rosemary parking analysis Jon Martens, Walker Parking
• March 4, 2020 – Council to consider authorizing Memorandum of Understanding with Grubb Properties. 
  • MOU executed
• Feb. 27, 2020 – Public Information Meeting 
• Feb. 19, 2020 – Council authorizes Town Manager to draft a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Grubb Properties

• Exchange Wallace parking deck/land for 137 (CVS) parking deck and adjacent parcels
• Build a new parking deck on 137 East Rosemary parcel that provides approximately 300 net new public parking spaces (1,100 space deck)
• Grubb constructs a new wet lab/office building of 200,000+/- square feet in downtown (project value of $80 million)
• $80 million in new investment
• 800 new jobs
• Increase connectivity among walking, bicycling and multi-modal networks
• Two new green spaces/parks
• 100 parking spaces for UNC to support a new admissions building on East Franklin

Opportunity Zones are qualifying census tracts, as originally established under the Markets Tax Credits program and confirmed by the Treasury Department to be used for this program. Governor Roy Cooper’s target was to have at least one designated opportunity zone per county. This is the only Opportunity Zone in Orange County.