Chapel Hill landmark destroyed to make way for a gas station

COMMUNITY NEWS

By Michelle Cassell
Editor

Another piece of Chapel Hill’s history is lost forever. The familiar mural depicting beloved UNC Basketball Coach Dean Smith met its demise a few days ago to make room for another gas station.

The mural, viewed by many as an integral part of our town’s fabric, was said to be a symbol of the community’s pride and connection to the University of North Carolina. It was painted as a tribute to Coach Smith following his death in 2015.

It remained on a wall near the former location of Angel Upholstery, at 1950 Highway 15/501, facing Smith Level Road at the Walmart intersection, for 10 years. Its destruction to make way for a gas station creates what many view as a loss to our community.

“My kids and I are going to miss seeing it, “ said a local mother, “It made me smile since I am a UNC alumnus and it is part of my history.”

Local artist Scott Nurkin painted it in 2015 in honor of Coach Dean Smith, a figure who held a special place in his heart.  Nurkin was renting studio space at the location at the time.

Last week, it was apparent that the mural’s fate was held in limbo for several days, as it stood alone before its destruction after the other buildings were torn down. Local efforts to preserve the mural were answered with bulldozers last week, marking the end of a decade-long tribute.

Starpoint Refuel, a new gas station, will soon occupy this bustling location. While it will undoubtedly serve a practical purpose, its presence will mark the loss of a significant cultural landmark at the intersection of 15 501 and Smith Level Rd.., at the Walmart intersection, near the Orange County line.

Nurkin hopes to recreate the mural if he can find another location, he said in a report by ABC11 News.

The Local Reporter’s efforts to contact Mayor Jessica Anderson for comments were not answered at the time of this posting.

Michelle Cassell is a seasoned reporter who has covered everything from crime to hurricanes and local politics to human interest over the course of 35 years. As Editor, she hopes to encourage writers of a wide range of backgrounds and interests in TLR’s coverage of Southern Orange County news. This reporter can be reached at: Information@TheLocal Reporter.press.