2007-04-13 Residents still angered by signs

2007-04-13 Jen Shurney Daily Tar Heel \Weaver Street Market\Carr Mill Mall\Footloose Bruce http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/04/13/OnlineExclusives/Residents.Still.Angered.By.Signs-2839846.shtml Residents still angered by signs Residents still angered by signs The entire article is reprinted here because it is no longer available online at the original source. Signs at Weaver Street Market are up - again - and Carrboro residents still are unhappy.

The signs, located on the lawn in front of Weaver Street Market, originally were erected March 9 as a result of the dancing of Bruce Thomas.

Thomas, known as "Footloose Bruce," was asked by a security guard to stop dancing. The incident ignited a three-month-long controversy that resulted in the Carr Mill Mall Open Space Policy last October.

Rules printed on the original signs prohibited unauthorized performances on the lawn, a practice allowed in October's agreement.

They were vandalized by residents until Weaver Street Market management removed the signs.

New, smaller signs were placed back on the lawn early this week, but many residents have said they still find the signs obtrusive.

The new signs have been corrected to carry the original wording of the open space policy.

"I didn't like either of them," said Connie Gates, an Orange County resident, referring to both the new and old signs. "I hear snide remarks about them that just don't add well to the atmosphere."

Rick Hermanson, a Carrboro resident, said he thinks the signs are completely unnecessary.

"Common sense and courtesy should be part of the public's upbringing," he said.

Alderman Dan Coleman, who negotiated with Carr Mill Mall about the signs, said that he understands that Carr Mill Mall wants to publicize the rules but that there isn't necessarily a need to display them blatantly.

"Other businesses have rules and don't need to display them," Coleman said.

Although many residents were angered by the replacement of the signs, business has not been negatively affected by their presence, Weaver Street Market employee Steve Parker said. But Parker said that hasn't stopped many shoppers from voicing their complaints.

"Some people are upset that Weaver Street Market didn't make a bigger fuss to landlords about it," Parker said. "Customers have complained."

But most residents agreed that the new signs are at least better than the old ones.

"I think the wording is a little better on the new signs," Parker said.

Wander Lorentz de Haas, a Chapel Hill resident, said he has no objection to the new signs.

"I find them helpful," he said. "It sets guidelines and gives structure for everyone."

Improvements aside, most residents said they still think the area would be better with no signs at all.

Parker said, "A lot of people don't like them, and I don't think they'll stop until the signs have been completely defaced." Dancing is an "unauthorized performance"? Who knew.

&ldquo;Thomas, known as "Footloose Bruce," was asked by a security guard to stop dancing. The incident ignited a three-month-long controversy that resulted in the Carr Mill Mall Open Space Policy last October. .. Rules printed on the original signs prohibited unauthorized performances on the lawn, a practice allowed in October's agreement. .. They were vandalized by residents until Weaver Street Market management removed the signs.&rdquo;   