BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for November 7, 2008

Things will be a bit quiet here in BCR-land today, as I'm up in Chicago for an extended vacation weekend. But life in the Bull City goes on:

• The City Council is expected at its Nov. 17 meeting to formally ask the city manager to negotiate with the state over the preservation of the Black Meadow Ridge tract -- negotiations that could result in the transfer of the city-owned West Point Park on the Eno to state control. Mayor Bell signaled his support for a possible transfer at yesterday's council work session, according to the H-S: "''My personal opinion is that people don't care who owns the park as long as people have access to it,' Bell said. 'There's no question we're challenged to maintain the properties we now have.'" Councilmen Howard Clement and Eugene Brown are also described as favorable. (H-S)
• After fifteen years, non-stop service between RDU and Paris will resume with five-times-weekly service to Charles de Gaulle Airport. The service on Delta will start in June, with special fares available through Nov. 21. (H-S)
• Neighborhood groups, the City and developers continue to be at odds over the Ninth Street small-area plan, with Watts-Hillandale's Tom Miller expressing concern that the city's proposal -- allowing a 55 ft./45 ft. building height split without the low-rise structure protections that neighborhoods have recently called for -- have effectively given developer Terry Sanford Jr. what he wants and given no reason for him to return to the negotiating table. W-H resident and City Councilman Mike Woodard signalled he wanted to see further negotiation before the Council votes, currently scheduled for Nov. 17. (H-S)
  
• As with most urban school systems in the state, Durham's public schools continue to struggle with the state's annual progress testing, with only four of the district's schools qualifying for what the state calls "adequate yearly progress." (H-S)
• City attorney Patrick Baker called for the City Council to look at more closely scrutinizing privilege license applications for beer and wine sales -- a power that the council has but has rarely used, leading to much grumbling at times from local PAC citizen anti-crime councils. Several Council members called for particular attention to establishments in high-poverty or high-crime neighborhoods. (H-S)
  

Comments

[Bulloney]

Does it bother ANYONE that although Brown and Ray say they want to sell the land to the state, if only the city would give West Point away, they have yet to supply an option to anyone--the state, the city, Friends of West Point--ensuring that the sale could actually happen?

What happens when the city gives away West Point, and Brown/Ray demand $4 million for their property? Does the state cave and pay above market value (and get screwed) or does the city get screwed? And do Friends of West Point care?

Enquiring minds want to know!