Inspired by Some of the Finest Gathering Places in the World European Elements

Part of the the Vision for The Courtyard of Chapel Hill includes suffusing characteristic elements from five European cities into the aesthetics of this property.   Therefore, shortly after purchasing this property in late September 2005, Spencer C. Young took a 10-day trip to Europe to spend two-days in each city of Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris and Rome.  Thousands of pictures were taken in these magnificent cities, focusing on capturing unique elements representative of their respective cultures for consideration of their inclusion in the planned redevelopment. These pictures were carefully culled and included in separate photo/video montages and set to music relevant to each city.  These montages were then circulated via email and shared with EVERY merchant tenant of The Courtyard of Chapel Hill seeking their feedback, which Mr. Young principally received in ensuing one-on-one meetings upon his return to the United States. Presented below are the montages for each of these cities, along with a summary of the landmarks featured, the elements considered and the rationale behind the musical score.

Frankfurt Landmarks Featured: Downtown Financial Center, Institutional Banking Skyscrapers, The Romer, Sachsen Housen, Museumsufer, Messerturm Messe, Eiffel Bridge, Hotel Frankfurter Hof, The River Main, The Hauptbahnhof, The Romer Dom, Galleria Kaufhof, Willy Brandt Plaza, Schausspielhaus Opera House and the Borse. Elements Considered for Redevelopment: Bavarian Siding, Prominent Flag Displays, Bavarian Roofing with Perimeter Lighting, Outdoor Wall Mural, Cobblestone Walkways, Elevated Flower Boxes, Flowers Around Statues and Fountains, Simple Water Fountain, Illuminated Logo, Upward Reflective Lighting on Buildings, Open Market Kiosks, Colorful Banners on Lamp Posts, Ornamental Street Lamps, Food Courts, Outdoor Tables with Benches & Umbrellas, Chalkboard Menus, Gated Entrances, Wall Vines, Metal Signs and Gas Lights. Musical Score & It's Relevance: "Find Your Way Back" by Michelle Branch Sting serves as the musical score.  This was done because the Allied forces had bombed this city to oblivion during WW II, such that most believed it would never be able to "find its way back" to what it once was. The unwavering will of the German people not only resurrected this city, it has become the de facto banking capital of Europe, serving as the headquarters for the European Central Bank, and 229 banking institutions (half of which are foreign), as well as the 10 largest banks in Germany (e.g., Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank). Yes, Frankfurt has indeed found its way back.

London    Landmarks Featured: Victoria Station, Savoy Hotel, The Strand, Trafalgar Square, Churchill's War Rooms, Princess Diana Memorial Path, The Changing of the Guards, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing St., Thames River, The London Eye and Big Ben.    Elements Considered for Redevelopment: English Telephone Booth, Hanging Potted Plants, Courtyard Clock, Guilded Hanging Store Signs, Ornamental Street Lanterns, Scheduled Entertainment Events, Ornamental Benches, Inviting Landscaping, Gold Leaf Touches, Spires, Pedestaled Statue, and Captivating Entranceways.   Musical Score & It's Relevance: "Englishman in New York" by Sting is used in the context of a role reversal twist, keeping in mind Mr. Young is from New York.

Madrid Landmarks Featured:  Palacio Real de Madrid (a/k/a The Royal Palace), Museo Nacional del Prado (a/k/a the Prado Museum, which houses the most important and renowned collection of religious paintings in the world, Caterdral del la Almudena, Many Fountained Plazas, and a very large and renowned one -- to wit, the Plaza del Toros (where the bull fights are held), and Magnificent Architecture throughout the city,   Elements Considered for Redevelopment: Outdoor Art Shows, Flag of Courtyard Logo, Multi-Level Fountain Surrounded by Shrubs & Colorful Flowers, Dramatic Balconies Overlooking the Courtyard, Tree-lined Walkways, Large Wall Banners, Small Banners on Lamp Posts, Cylindrical Town Event Bulletin Board, Large Outdoor Wall Murals, Multiple Flag Displays, Ornamental Lamps Affixed to Building, Rich Exterior Wood, Ornamental Rooftops, Illuminated Fountains with Geysered Water, and Tall Evergreen Shrubs. Musical Score & It's Relevance:  The musical score is il Divo's "Regresa a Mi", which is the Spanish version of the the Toni Braxton hit "Unbreak My Heart" -- The title translates to "Return to Me", which is how one's lover would best "unbreak" one's heart. This song was chosen for two reasons: (1) this was the last of the five European cities visited during Mr. Young's 10-day trip, which was so enjoyable, it broke his heart to have to leave; and (2) the song is sung entirely in Spanish.

Paris Landmarks Featured: Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysee', Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, The Left Bank, Hotel de Crillon, St. Marie Madeleine Church, Garnier Opera House, Palais de Chaillot, Riviere Seine, Cathedral of Notre Dame and St. Germaine Blvd.  Elements Considered for Redevelopment: Ornamental Water Fountain, Belgian Stones, Ornamental Street Lamps (multi-armed stand-alones and building affixed), Arched entrances, structural illumination, Building Columns, Boxed Potted Plants, Manicured Grouinds, Simple Colorful Awnings, Building Wall Banners, Town Billboard, Angled Flags on Buildings, Straight Up Flagpoles, Colorful Floral Arrangements and Human Form Sculptures. Musical Score & It's Relevance: "City of Blinding Lights" by U2 is aptly set to this montage, which is appropo because Paris has long been known as "La Ville-Lumière", or "The City of Light". This nickname refers to its fame as the epicenter for creative thinking during the "Age of Enlightenment" (which spanned much of the 18th century), and cultivated significant achievements in Science, Philosophy and the Arts.

Rome Landmarks Featured:  The Colloseo, The Pantheon, The Plaza Navona, The Fontana di Trevi, Vatican City, St. Peter;'s Square, The Basilica, The Vatican Museums, and The Sistine Chapel.  Elements Considered for Redevelopment: Outdoor Food Court with Closely Arranged Tables, Expressive Multi-level Water Fountains, Electic Mix of Ancient with Modern, Dramatic Night Lighting, Colorful Displays of Food, Captivating and Inviting Courtyards, Prominent Plant Displays in the Courtyard, Intruiging Ceilings and Hallways Musical Score & It's Relevance: "Now We Are Free" (Theme song for the movie Gladiator) by Enya.