HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0779 (2)Mayor Marshall said the council had voted to contribute $500,000 with the two
stipulations. He said the council had not actually approved the concept of providing a
site.
Commissioner Williams asked if the $500,000 would be enough to prepare the
Tradd Street site.
Mashburn said parking would be inadequate even after a multi -storied building
was constructed. He said there also wouldn't be space for landscaping and future
expansion. Mr. Mashburn said his estimates indicated it would cost at least $775,000
more to use the Tradd Street site compared to the Eastside Drive property. He said the
$775,000 was to buy adjoining property, cover the costs of demolition of the buildings on
the property, and replace one of the buildings. Mashburn said purchasing a half acre with
the money would only provide 50 more parking spaces. He said the county had
previously purchased 1.76 acres and if another half acre were purchased, there would be
about 2.25 acres. Mashburn said that if the existing library property were added to the
2.25, the entire tract would be about 3.35 acres.
Commissioner Williams asked if the $775,000 included environmental costs.
Mashburn said it did not. He said there was a dry cleaning business at the site,
and it could be anticipated there might be clean-up costs.
Commissioner Bowles said the architect had said a minimum of four acres was
needed. He said this was why the Eastside Drive property became the site preference.
Chairman Tice asked Mayor Marshall if the city had any property that would
work for the site.
Mayor Marshall discussed a site on Meeting, Walnut and West Front Streets
estimated to cost $536,000. He said the city would be willing to close off a portion of
Meeting Street. Marshall said he had already talked to representatives of the EMS and
fire department, both located on Meeting Street, and he was told the street closing would
not cause problems. Mayor Marshall conceded that part of the site was owned by the
county and used for employee parking and the county's recreation building. He said
one part of the site was being donated to the city (Raymer Building), and the city could
acquire other properties that were valued at $450,000. Marshall said demolition and
environmentals would be $86,300. He said the total package would be $536,300 with no
costs to Iredell County. Marshall said the owner of the Vance Hotel had requested some
input, especially in regards to the parking situation. He said the hotel owner would also
like permission to use the parking area when needed. Mr. Marshall said he knew parking
was a key factor. Marshall said that when the buildings were demolished, the site would
be 2.099880 acres of land. He said there were two municipal all -day free parking lots
nearby that could be used. Marshall said the architect would have the city's permission
to place or situate the building on the site. He said the site had good ingress and egress,
and it was "flat" Mr. Marshall stressed that the city council had not voted to obtain the
properties for the county, but the members had listened to the proposal. He said the only
cost to the county would be the already approved $5.6 million. Marshall said the
Eastside Drive property could be saved for another county project.
Commissioner Ray asked what area would be designated for library parking and
public parking.
Marshall showed the area on a map, and he said that in addition, the municipal
lots and the Vance Hotel lot could be used when necessary.
Commissioner Johnson said he felt the board members would prefer for the
library to remain downtown, but there were concerns. He reminded the mayor that the
county would have to replace the county employee parking lot used in the proposal, and a
replacement building would have to be found for the Recreation Department.