Parking in downtown Chapel Hill might get a little easier if the town adopts recommendations in the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership's new parking study.

The report recommends more on-street parking, "courtesy tickets" where the town issues a warning before a fine, and a grace period for expired meters.

Meg McGurk, the assistant director of the partnership, says the study also recommends moving management of parking, including enforcement, from the Town of Chapel Hill to the Downtown Partnership.

And the report suggests expanding the use of valet parking. "The West End valet parking service is incredibly successful," said McGurk.

The nonprofit partnership is charged with bringing the town, university, and the downtown community together to promote downtown as a social, cultural and spiritual center of Chapel Hill through economic development. It is funded by the town, UNC and the downtown Chapel Hill Municipal Service District tax.

The parking recommendations should go before the Chapel Hill Town Council early next year, when a lot will be happening with the partnership, starting with a new director.

Former executive director Liz Parham now directs the Main Street Project for the state of North Carolina, an effort to help the downtowns of smaller towns. The interim director, Dwight Bassett, is also the economic development director for the Town of Chapel Hill. McGurk says he has things hopping.

Of course there is the vintage Clothing Warehouse that will open in the former Kerr Drug building at 109 E. Franklin St. and the Walgreens Drug Store coming to the former Gap and Carolina Theater buildings across the street. (See last Wednesday's Chapel Hill News or www.chapelhillnews.com for more on those). But there's more.

"The Trail Shop is being renovated right now," said McGurk. "It's slated to be a high-end restaurant."

The Recovery Room, a bar and restaurant at 108 Henderson St., opened within the last few weeks, McGurk said.

And the former McFarland's Service Station on West Franklin Street is now the sales office for the Lot 5 mixed-use development, called the 140 West Development; the development's address is 140 West Franklin Street.

Shula's 347 Grill opens in local Sheraton Hotel

The Sheraton Chapel Hill has announced the opening of Shula's 347 restaurant, now serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at the full-service hotel, located on Europa Drive in Chapel Hill.

Shula's 347 Grill is named in honor of Hall of Fame Coach Don Shula, "the winningest coach in NFL history, with 347 victories," said Wes Collins, director of sales and marketing for the Sheraton. Shula's 347 Grill has everything from gourmet salads to fresh specialty fish, and exclusively serves "The Shula Cut," using the same custom cuts and aging process from Shula's Steak House.

Phydeaux completes its move to a new location

Phydeaux, the deluxe pet supply store that used to be located in downtown Carrboro, has completed its move into its new 9,000 square foot store at the Galleria on South Elliott Road in Chapel Hill.