Property Management of the Carolinas

Wolf Laurel a Top Retirement Community, It's Best Homes are Mountainside Townhomes

2009-12-10T11:23:00.006-05:00

In a word? Amazing. My heart is beating rapidly as I frenetically write this information. Run to a community that has changed and is one of the biggest secrets in the Asheville area-- Mountainside Townhomes. Run as fast as you can, pick out one of these luxury homes, earmark it for you and the Mrs. and plan to retire here. You will NOT find another place to live in the eastern United States as all out amazing as Wolf Laurel's Mountainside Townhomes.

Where is it? It is only located in the BEST place to live in the eastern US. Wolf Laurel is about a quick 30 minutes north of Asheville, every possibl amenity you would ever want is on the mountain (located a short 3 miles from the new I-26), but just a short jaunt away is a world of cultural splendor. You have nature and outdoor sports and social activities on site in a gated community, but a short drive away you are in Asheville, the San Francisco of the east coast the cultural mecca of the southern Appalachians.

A few hours from Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA-- this area is convenient to everything. Asheville/Hendersonville airport is a short drive away, but in case you have your own plane and are a pilot, there is an airpark right in Wolf Laurel. Can't beat that!

Recently I went to look at the Mountainside Townhomes. Some friends of mine have been working on this project for a few years. I have to admit that while I had heard good things about the construction and craftsmanship, I had no idea what I was about to get into when I saw the homes themselves. It is enough for many people to have a drafty cabin in Wolf Laurel, but to have a home as luxurious as any in the world is another thing. And maintenance free? Don't get me started! Trex decks overlooking hundreds of miles of mountain ranges, positioned beneath Big Bald and the Appalachian Trail. I can't begin to tell you how the attention to detail caught my breath. I will never look at bathrooms the same way again.

If you're a cook, you will love the granite countertops, real maple cabinetry, and appliances. You will love curling up in front of the giant stone fireplace with a good book, or leaving the sliding doors open on cool summer evenings and listening to the owls call each other. Magical is what it is.

But with all the magic of nature, you also have the conveniences of big city living in nearby Asheville. Mountainside Townhomes are a best kept secret and the people who are buying and moving in to the homes consider themselves some of the luckiest people on the planet.

Check out this bedroom! Visit their site for more information!

House At Whispering Water Makes You Shout!

2009-07-12T23:08:00.005-04:00

I have to tell you that I just got back from a little known place called Spring Creek, NC. It is a hike out to it for those of you east of East Flat Rock can attest. But it is beautiful country, especially in the hot months because it gets downright chilly at night. I took a lady friend and we went up to this place I had heard about from one of my fishing buddies. The house is called House at Whispering Water and I don't know how they call it a whisper because you can hear the water moving down the mountain. I tell you what, it lulled me to sleep like a baby every night.

Now I have stayed in a lot of fancy places and I have stayed in some holes in the wall too. This place was nice, by anyone's standards. The linens were high quality, the house had a sense of style to it, the kitchen appliances and utensils were the best quality, the furniture wasn't something someone picked up at a yard sale-- it was nice.

So my lady friend liked it too. She is one of those gals who likes to have separate rooms and gets gussied up and stays in her room for hours and I'm wondering when is she going to get down here so we can go to Harrah's in Cherokee and finally she came down and she was gushing about the bathroom and how nice it was and how the water was amazing, so much cleaner than East Flat Rock (which I didn't believe, but maybe it is true).

Like I said, I've staying in a lot of vacation rentals, but this one took the cake. I brought my mountain bike and got out and about and saw a diamond back rattler, but it wasn't bothering me and I decided not to bother it and that is how that went, we lived together peacefully.

I love staying in town in Hot Springs and usually stay at my friend's place www.hotspringsnchouse.com, but this time I was glad that my lady friend and I stayed out in the woods. At night, it was quiet, save for the whispering water, and she got a little scared and after my tale of the rattler she figured I was strong enough to protect her and now maybe we won't stay in separate rooms any more.

I booked this place straight from the owners by emailing them directly. They were nice folks and have a two night minimum which is better than some of the other places that require 3 nights. It is reasonably price to be so nice. It is one of the best vacation rentals in the Blue Ridge Mountains or rental cabins in the Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina I have seen in a long time. I'm putting some pictures up of the house that I took from their site. It's hot and trust me, I know hot.

Peace,
Big Al

Cutting the Cost of Property Management

2009-05-01T12:04:00.001-04:00

by Beth Mattson-Teig

Property managers are under increasing pressure to generate value for clients as some sectors of commercial real estate show signs of softening. “The typical institutional investor out there is pointing resources — attention, dollars, labor — at the part of the value chain that we provide,” says Tony Long, president of asset services at CB Richard Ellis. CBRE ranks No. 1 in NREI's Top Property Manager survey with 1.9 billion sq. ft. under management as of Dec. 31, 2007.

For managers, that renewed focus on value means paying close attention to tenant services and operating efficiencies. Those companies that can deliver value in this choppy economic climate will continue to garner new business.

Colliers Arnold Real Estate Services in Clearwater, Fla., has grown its property management business over the past five years with a portfolio that has increased from 2.5 million to 14.5 million sq. ft. That explosive growth is due to the firm's geographic expansion from central and west Florida to a statewide presence. And the firm expects to expand further amid a challenging economy.

“In down markets, property management grows because clients that would have managed properties themselves tend to look to outside sources that have all the capabilities to handle properties,” says Howard Rosenthal, executive vice president and principal at Colliers Arnold Real Estate Services.

Colliers Arnold recently landed a 500,000 sq. ft. property management assignment for The Proscenium, a 500,000 sq. ft. mixed-use development in downtown Sarasota, Fla. Colliers International ranks No. 3 in this year's survey with 868 million sq. ft. under management.

Cost-cutting measures

Generating operating efficiencies has always been at the forefront of management duties. Yet producing cost savings is even more of a priority today in an inflationary environment. Managers are focusing on each property and asking where they can find those extra dollars that can save owners some money, says Dan Pufunt, COO of markets at Jones Lang LaSalle in Chicago. The giant real estate services provider ranks No. 2 on NREI's survey with 1.2 billion sq. ft. under management at the end of 2007.

Jones Lang LaSalle provides its engineers with intensive training to deliver cost savings for clients and tenants. The firm holds a weeklong conference each year for senior engineers who attend classes and share best practices. Jones Lang LaSalle also wants to have 500 professionals earn accreditation through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program by the end of 2009, including 150 engineers.

Across the board, property management firms are implementing a variety of cost- and time-saving innovations, ranging from electronic rent payment to Web-based systems that enable tenants to submit maintenance requests online.

Green initiatives

Efficiency is in line with the growing emphasis on creating greener buildings. Certainly part of the focus is driven by soaring fuel costs. Natural gas prices rose 10.7% in 2007, while the cost of heating oil rose 35%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Those higher prices are a big concern for property owners and tenants since commercial buildings are huge energy users. Buildings are responsible for 39% of energy consumption in the U.S., according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

“If the landlord and the tenant can save energy dollars by putting in place sustainability efforts, we're doing it,” Long says. CB Richard Ellis has numerous sustainability initiatives underway. For example, 150 million sq. ft. of its 750 million sq. ft. portfolio in the Americas is registered with Energy Star, while 120 buildings are either registered or in the process of being registered for LEED accreditation.

In addition, more than 1,000 of the company's employees have participated in an energy efficiency program offered by the Building Owners and Managers Association, adds Long. “Those are very real examples of a confluence of both the greening of our industry and the focus on operations coming together all at one time.”

Mountainside Townhomes is a Great Investment

2009-03-15T23:52:00.002-04:00

Buy! Buy! Buy! A Mountainside Townhome. Visit their website at www.mountainsidetownhomes.com. These are truly the best made townhomes in western NC. Right now they have amazing deals. The prices will not last long as they are. Want to live in an exclusive community? These homes are exquisite, impeccably designed, artisan built.

Call Randy Blankenship at Beverly-Hanks in Weaverville to tell you all about them.

Asheville Area Property is a good place for Property Managers to advertise services

2008-12-16T10:02:00.003-05:00

We are lucky in western North Carolina to have a new advertising site that is done the way we investors like to see our real estate or rental properties marketed, it's Asheville Area Property, brought to you by the same gurus of People to Spaces.Now this website has been around for a long time, but only recently received a facelift with potential for advertising. It comes up high on search engines and it looks great. Once people get on the site, it's "sticky" and they stick around. I recommend that you visit the site, click "join us" and get in early at a great "early bird" rate before the online real estate goes up on this one. It will. It may prove to be the best of its kind on the Web.

As property managers, it is becoming more competitive to find two things: good tenants who pay their rent and keeping our rental properties filled. We all know that when we have vacancies, it costs us. Asheville Area Property entices both property owners (potential clients of ours) and potential renters to visit their site to hook up with information. Both would be crazy not to use it.

Hot Springs Rental House, A Best Value in Vacations in WNC

2008-07-26T22:51:00.003-04:00

Okay then. These friends of mine just decided to dress up a family home in Hot Springs and make it a vacation rental. I have to say I had my doubts. In fact, I was telling them to "sell, sell, sell." You should see this place. It has high ceilings and is huge. It is old, historic even. The views from the bedrooms will make you think you are looking at a Monet impressionist painting especially in the fall of the year. But did they sell? No one is taking my advice these days. It is the real estate market making me look bad.

These folks have a sweet spot in Hot Springs, North Carolina. If you have never been there, I suggest you go. It is quaint- whatever that means- and they say lots of local eccentric folk milling around town which makes people watching great. Me? I like going down to he pub and having a cold one and a burger after a long day floating down the river. You can WALK to the pub and crawl to this amazing old house.

I think they are asking around $115 - $130 per night with a three night minimum. This is a steal because places like Mountain Magnolia Inn and some of the other places can charge double depending on the time of year. This place is pet-friendly and has Internet high speed. I'm going in October for the leaves and taking a lady friend. Nothing like watching a sunset in a pretty lady's eyes. This is Al and I am going to Hot Springs.

2008-06-30T08:50:00.001-04:00

If you want to buy a lot in the hottest area around Asheville, with the best schools, with a protected investment, eco-friendly, second-to-none builders (when you're ready), then Keswick Hills is the property for you. Keswick Hills just launched its fantastic new website that is full of visuals that will make all other properties seem second-rate.

So you don't feel like spending your whole retirement in regret that you didn't seize this opportunity in hopping South Asheville? Then give Keswick Hills a call today.Keswick Hills is located in an old-growth open-understory hardwood forest on the South slope of Merrill Mountain.

Keswick Hills offers seventy homesites to the discriminating buyer, offering homesites from 1 to 2.5 acres with elevations from 2,300 to 2,600 feet. The landscape is rich with beautiful flora and fauna including large lush old growth trees, budding irises, native rhododendron, azaleas, and other wild flowers. Breathtaking views, serene ponds, and clear streams complement the quiet forested setting.

Keswick Hills is an exceptional place to call home with something special to offer families, professionals, and retirees looking to live in a tranquil pristine location without sacrificing the amenities of town. Furthermore, it’s a community that cares about the environment and embraces green living in harmony with nature.

Keswick Hills
239 South Plains Drive
Asheville, North Carolina 28803
Email: living@keswickhills.com
Phone: (828) 687-3511

Visit their Website NOW!

No Planned Communities Offer Value Like Scenic View Terrace

2008-01-06T22:59:00.000-05:00

The project is called Scenic View Terrace and is nothing short of amazing. Scenic View Terrace, LLC was formed of several Western NC developers and businessmen to develop a residential multi-family development into properties with long range mountain views, spacious living, and at an incredible value. They worked together to accomplish these objectives and did so through the Scenic View Terrace development. The development offers some fo the most magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in all of western NC. The layout of the floor plan utilizes every square foot while capturing views of the mountains through the picture window. Living in this community would create a relaxing yet lively lifestyle through the private pool, clubhouse, and tennis facility. The price per square foot can't be matched anywhere. You really have to see it to believe it.

I love all of the floor plans, especially the three level with a garage. It sports 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a den, and amazing views. For the same price I could buy a "fixer upper" in transitional West Asheville, but buying in Scenic View Terrace and is wise. The low maintenance living ensures time to do whatever it is you love to do.

It is located about four miles from Patton Avenue; which puts you close enough to downtown and the cultural center of the City and far enough away to feel the safety and privacy you deserve. Visit their Website today and set up a tour before they all sell out. A site plan is included in this blog post. They are NOT over developing the land, so get your unit before they are gone. When they resale, the price will definitely go up. This is the best value I have seen in Asheville, NC in the last decade.

Even if you aren't looking for something year-round, Scenic View Terrace would be a great rental investment if you aren't into fixer-uppers and want to rent. Rentals are extremely rare and pricey in Asheville and you could rent it and the overall value will very likely go up pretty quickly once the community takes off. Now, however, is the time to buy.

Use Directories

2007-12-30T15:36:00.000-05:00

Look, and I mean this, directories are important. I know they are annoying and frustrating when you are trying to find something of substance andyou keep getting these dadblasted lists, but they work. Take for instance rental properties. www.rentalhouses.com is one of the best local rental home resources I have found. They have consistent information and well organized photos/slideshows. Happy New Year. I look forward to bringing you more tips in 2008.

Hotels, Inns, and Restaurants OH MY, Glad we Gave Bright Leaf Junction Inn a try!

2007-12-02T20:04:00.000-05:00

Property in Hot Springs, NC is hot. At least that is what Richard Bale and Mary Seaman decided when they embarked upon the Bright Leaf Junction project a few years ago. The area where the hotel and restaurant is located is comprised of two adjoining downtown historic buildings in the heart of Hot Springs, North Carolina. The original hotel was built in 1929 while the building that houses the restaurant is reported ot have been built prior to 1890 and is said to be one of the oldest commercial buildings in the county. The painstaking year-long restoration successfully preserved the unique character of the buildings as well as the original architectural details which include stamp0ed tin ceilings, elaborate cornice work, original skylights, plaster and lathe walls, transoms and heart of pine floors. For close to a century this downtown proeprty has served the citizens of Hot Springs and those traveling through the region as a hotel, boarding house, haberdashery and hardware store.

While the hotel is a destination unto itself, the town of Hot Springs has long been attracting visitors due to its ideal location set deep in the Blue Ridge mountains.

The major attraction in Hot Springs is the area's seemingly infinite and varied romantic settings and is why Hot Springs has become the number one choice in the tri-state area for destination weddings. Just a short scenic drive through the mountains will bring you from Asheville, Knoxville, Charlotte or Atlanta to the town and the possibilities that await.

I've never thought that property investment in little resort towns was fiscally responsible. But Mary Seaman and Richard Bale have made it work. Mary has a talent for decorating, relating to people, and she and Richard have enormous talent in hospitality. Enormous. That is why I say hats off to the owners of Bright Leaf Junction and wish them well on their relaunching. We know this project has enormous cash flow potential and hope that the drive toward "local" tourism fills them with all kinds of success.

- submitted by al fesperman

Rates for Web Ads in JPM

2007-11-26T15:42:00.000-05:00

Unique Marketing Opportunities

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Horizontal Banner on the Web site link:
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Contact your Account Executive and learn more about
supplementing your media plan with electronic advertising.

*Source: WebTrends, July 2004

Direct Marketing: List Rental
Order the names and mailing addresses of real estate management professionals and JPM subscribers for your next mailing. Individual listings are available and can be sorted by city/state/zip to target your customized audience.

To request a data card, sort selections and format options, contact our list manager:

Direct Media
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Phone: 203-532-3851
E-mail: mmiles@directmedia.com

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Sharing the Knowledge of Good Property Managers

2007-11-26T15:25:00.000-05:00

To assist you in finding North Carolina property managers or a property management company to help you with property management for your houses and homes for rent in NC, the following is a list of property management companies and NC property managers who can help you manage your homes for rent including townhouses and townhomes, condos, duplexes, apartments, or houses for rent. To find out more information about rental property managers, residential property management, certified property managers, professional property management, and rental property management in general, the National Association of Residential Property Managers, NARPM, is a good source. Renters can also utilize the links below to view all of the home rentals available by these North Carolina property management companies or NC property managers and visit their property management websites for additional information.

Atlantic Realty Group - Cassandra Phipps

8301 University Exec. Dr # 140
Charlotte, NC 28262
Tel: 704-510-0440
Fax: 704-510-0438
Company Keyword: Atlantic Realty Group
View our listings
View our website

Barker Realty Inc. - Jennifer Lawrence

1401 Sunday Drive, Suite 116
Raleigh, NC 27607
Tel: 919-859-0044
Company Keyword: Barker Realty
View our listings
View our website

Cameron Property Management - Jim Cameron

1220 SE Maynard Road, Ste 201
Cary, NC 27511
Tel: 919-481-0123
Company Keyword: Cameron
View our listings
View our website

Carod Properties, LLC - Sherkica Miller-McIntyre

4801 E. Independence Blvd., Suite 1000
Charlotte, NC 28212
Tel: 704-927-4074
Fax: 704-927-4078
Company Keyword: Carod Properties
View our listings
View our website

Dream Realty - Kathryn Marshall

6135 Park South Drive, Suite 510
Charlotte, NC 28210
Tel: 704-945-7143
Fax: 704-554-6144
Company Keyword: Dream Realty
View our listings
View our website

Elite Properties & Services - Catherine Norman

300 Hwy # 5 Suite 1, Pinehurst Executive
Pinehurst, NC 28374
Tel: 910-295-2442
Fax: 910-295-2990
Company Keyword: Elite
View our listings
View our website

Elite Team Property Management - Brian Augustine

756 Tyvola Road
Charlotte, NC 28217
Tel: 704-521-2735
Fax: 704-525-8455
Company Keyword: ELITE TEAM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
View our listings
View our website

First Properties of the Carolinas - Kent Van Slambrook

1104 South Tryon, Suite 202
Charlotte, NC 28273
Tel: 704-248-3514
Company Keyword: First Properties
View our listings
View our website

Four Seasons Property Management, Inc - Susan Amick Plonski

2334 The Plaza
Charlotte, NC 28205
Tel: 704-335-1431
Fax: 704-335-0714
Company Keyword: Four Seasons
View our listings

Henderson Properties - Cindy Loveless

919 Norland Road
Charlotte, NC 28205
Tel: 704-535-1122
Fax: 704-569-9669
Company Keyword: Henderson Properties
View our listings
View our website

H & L Property Management, LLC - Clarence Haines

P.O. Box 562912
Charlotte, NC 28256
Tel: 704-531-5740
Company Keyword: Haines
View our listings
View our website

HomeVantage - Jason Hilliard

7804 Fairview Road #167
Charlotte, NC 28226
Tel: 704-367-2404
Company Keyword: Homevantage
View our listings
View our website

If It's Water and More, LLC

P.O. Box 2022
Weaverville, NC 28787
Tel: 828-658-1000
Company Keyword: IIW
View our website

Offering a full slate of water utility management needs.
Can work independently, with owner, or on-site manager for most effective fiscal control of your investment properties.

Klutts Property Management - Klutts Property Management

1433 Emerywood Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28210
Tel: 704-554-8861
Company Keyword: klutts
View our listings
View our website

Lease Evaluations, Inc. - Richard Roskind, REALTOR

3420 Torrington Way, Suite 200
Charlotte, NC 28277
Tel: 704-905-6175
Fax: 704-936-2339
Company Keyword: goldroskindhomes
View our listings
View our website

McKinney Management - David McKinney

304 West Fisher Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27401
Tel: 336-370-9958
View our listings
View our website

Park Avenue Properties - John Bradford

21121 Catawba Ave.
Cornelius, NC 28031
Tel: 704-334-2626
Fax: 704-334-2627
Company Keyword: Park Avenue
View our listings
View our website

Pennink & Strother Property Management - Chet Oehme

5302 Yadkin Road
Fayetteville, NC 28303
Tel: 910-864-3955
Company Keyword: pennink
View our listings
View our website

P-I Properties - Phil Price

104 Paisley Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
Tel: 336-273-4774
Company Keyword: PI
View our listings
View our website

Shearer Realty - Dave Shearer

P.O. Box 43079
Charlotte, NC 28215
Tel: 704-567-8200
Company Keyword: Shearer
View our listings
View our website

Showhomes - Thom Scott

2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite C203
Nashville, TN 37215
Tel: 251-690-9090
Fax: 251-690-9100
Company Keyword: showhomes
View our listings
View our website

Stellar Property Management - Shawn Dumas

1805 Sardis Rd N Suite 130
Charlotte, NC 28270
Tel: 704-321-0253
Company Keyword: Stellar
View our listings
View our website

Stevens Realty & Relocation - Franchelle Stevens

1320 SE Maynard Rd. Ste. 104
Cary, NC 27511
Tel: 919-786-3366
Fax: 919-469-8627
Company Keyword: Stevens
View our listings
View our website

ValuePlus Properties, LLC - Team Palmer

1775 W Williams St #127
Apex, NC 27523
Tel: 919-362-0037
Fax: 919-367-9409
Company Keyword: ValuPlus Properties
View our listings
View our website

Ruberize Your Ruler?

2007-07-26T15:29:00.000-04:00

As George Orwell might have put it, "All square feet are equal, but some are more equal than others." The "rentable area" of virtually every office unit includes a large block of square feet that cannot be used, or even found, but for which the tenant is nevertheless charged rent. The percentage difference between rentable and usable area is known as the Loss Factor.

To make life even more interesting, loss factors vary from building to building, and sometimes from floor to floor. It might be 15% in a small prewar property, and 40% in a contemporary tower. The loss factor is never disclosed publicly, and can only be determined by measuring the space and comparing the usable and rentable square footages.

There are no universally accepted standards for establishing loss factors in office buildings. In 1969, the Real Estate Board of NY created guidelines, but they were ignored and eventually rescinded. A national organization, the Building Owners & Managers

As a result, rentable areas bear little relation to usable areas. Floors routinely "grow" overnight following the purchase of a property, a change in the landlord's agent, or the relocation of a major tenant. In researching space for a client recently, we found that a floor listed as 8,000 square feet had been listed as 6,400 square feet only five years ago. It had miraculously grown by 25%! In Manhattan, such discoveries are almost routine.

Rent is quoted in terms of rentable, not usable, area. So, if any two buildings offer space at the same $30 per rentable square foot, the rent per usable square foot will probably be different. If Building A's loss factor is 20%, for example, the rent is $37.50 per USF. If Building B's loss factor is 30%, the rent is $42.86 per USF. A building with a higher quoted rent, but a lower loss factor, can actually be less expensive than one with a lower quoted rent, but a higher loss factor.

What's a tenant to do?

Don't be put in the position of comparing apples to oranges. Before deciding among competing transactions, you must know the Cost per Usable Square Foot of each one. These calculations should be reflected in the financial analyses prepared by your broker.

In the early stages of the space search, the broker should be able to approximate the usable area of each unit, based on floor plans and on industry and landlord practices. As the search narrows, the calculation of loss factor will change, as your architect applies his or her own definition of usable area, and re-measures the units accordingly. (Sorry, there's no standard definition of "usable area" either.) The financial analyses will then be revised. You will then know precisely what the cost is for both the visible and the invisible square feet of each unit under consideration.

If you can't get what you pay for, at least know what you're paying for what you do get.

UNC Chapel Hill Launches Property Management to Protect Greenways

2007-06-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

CHAPEL HILL -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will launch a new property management program for Carolina North next year to protect natural woods, improve trails and encourage recreational use.

"We intend to be excellent stewards of a piece of property with open spaces and natural areas that are important to the future of the university and the community," said Chancellor James Moeser. "The management plan is a proactive move to maintain and enhance areas of the tract that will not be used during the initial 50-year time horizon we envision for development at Carolina North."

Moeser said the management program would benefit local residents and further demonstrate the university's commitment to sustainability at Carolina North.

"We are proud of the strong record of responsible development and innovative environmentally friendly practices on the main campus," he said. "Our expectations for Carolina North are very high - it should be a model for environmental stewardship."

The university will commit an initial $427,000 - including more than $100,000 on an annual basis - to jump-start and sustain the program over the next two fiscal years. The university will hire two permanent and two temporary employees to manage the property daily. The team will help identify and post property lines, map hiking and biking trails, and install signs for trails, maps and information about how the public can use the property. The review of existing trails is expected to lead to decisions about which ones would need to be realigned, abandoned and then maintained in the resulting network.

Other plans include preserving an old mill area and adding picnic facilities, installing appropriate parking along roadsides and purchasing vehicles and equipment for the new staff.

The changes will help address some concerns that have surfaced in recent years because the property has not been actively managed, officials said. The university wants to continue encouraging use of the land by hikers, bikers and others, but in a way that will not harm the property or environment. For example, destructive practices that have occurred in the recent past include the use of motorized vehicles, unauthorized construction of new trails and creation of mountain bike jumps.

Other activities expected to be implemented as part of the new management efforts include insect and tree disease detection, selective tree replanting and cutting, fire control, and not allowing non-native invasive plants such as wisteria and privet to flourish.

Other possibilities under consideration include creating a related Web site, developing educational programs for interested groups or residents, including public school and university students, community members and visitors. In addition, the university plans to establish an advisory committee as a source of community-based information on various aspects of the management program.

University officials expect to hire the new employees to manage the Carolina North tract in 2007, enabling work on site to begin. No specific date has been set yet. They will report to the university's grounds services, which maintains beloved trees, flowers, shrubbery and green spaces on the main campus. They use best environmental practices endorsed in the campus master plan. Their work resulted in the university's selection for a 2005 Grand Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society's Green Star Awards competition, co-sponsored by Landscape Management magazine.

The grounds services staff also has been instrumental in helping develop and carry out recommendations from a task force Moeser created in 2003 to study the landscape heritage and plant diversity on the main campus in connection with construction and renovation projects included in the campus master plan.

The newly planned activity at Carolina North will also complement the university's successful efforts to improve community access to Battle Park, officials said. In 2004, at Moeser's request, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, which is part of the university, assumed responsibility for managing the wooded tract on the east side of campus and downhill from the Coker Arboretum. The park includes trails connecting with key resources such as the Chapel Hill Community Center and the stone amphitheater known as Forest Theatre at the edge of main campus. The changes, which have elicited positive community response, included major improvements to the trails, seating areas at key sites, as well as signage and maps.

The new property management program for Carolina North comes as one of the university's consultants, Biohabitats Inc., held two community meetings this week as part of the process of producing an ecological assessment to inform future planning on the university-owned property. The meetings were part of a series of workshops on technical topics that began earlier this fall to help guide the university's next steps in the planning at Carolina North.

At the same time, the Leadership Advisory Committee for Carolina North is providing community input to the formulation of planning principles that the university will use in the development of plans for submission to local governing bodies as part of the regulatory process. The report is due by March, and the committee is working to complete it sooner.