Lot where theater stood could get new buildings

CHAPEL HILL -- The weed-strewn lot in Village Plaza could soon become a three-story building.

Eastern Federal Corp. owns the property at 141 S. Elliott Road. It proposed building a 10-screen theater after it tore down its five-screen cinema in 2003, but disagreements over parking and a driveway stalled and ultimately killed the plan.

Now, the developers have submitted a concept plan slated to go before the Chapel Hill Town Council on May 12.

The plan calls for the three-story main building and two outlying buildings -- on the 10.92-acre site.

Architect Richard Gurlitz said the process could take nine months to a year.

-- Meiling Arounnarath, 932-2002; meiling.arounnarath@nando.com

Actress lands part in CBS soap opera

CHAPEL HILL -- Meredith Hagner was riding the subway in New York when her agent left the message on her cell phone -- "Call us right back."

Six weeks later, the 2005 Chapel Hill High School graduate debuted Thursday on the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns."

Hagner's character, Liberty Ciccone, surprises another character, but don't try pumping Hagner for details.

"Oh, gosh," she said apologetically. "I don't know if I'm supposed to say."

It's the next big step for Hagner, 20, and her meatiest role yet -- literally.

"I think one day [my character] had a cheeseburger, a plate of eggs Benedict, a pretzel and two cinnamon buns, and all my scenes were before noon," Hagner said. "I was really sick the rest of the day."

It sounds like a Hollywood story, but Hagner says she had just $10 in the bank the day she got the job.

And what has she bought with her new paycheck?

"Sunglasses," she said. "And a lock for my door. Someone had been trying to break in. It's true."

-- Mark Schultz, 932-2003; mark.schultz@nando.com