Orange County NC Website
~:~ Conversion of Southern Human Services Center Residence to Conference Center <br />Pam Jones said that there was some discussion as to whether a third story could be <br />added to the Government Service Center and have it still fit in the downtown area. She spoke to Ken <br />Redfoot who indicated that he feels that there could be a third story and even a fourth story added to the <br />Government Service Center without any problem. <br />Regarding the Animal Shelter, she originally projected 10,000 square feet. The Animal <br />Shelter now indicates that they need a significant expansion. The lease at the current site expires on <br />December 31, 2006 and talks with UNC indicate that there will not be an opportunity to expand this lease. <br />It could probably be extended on a month to month basis but nothing long term. The plan is to move the <br />Animal Control office to a location with the Animal Shelter for better operations and working relationship <br />in terms of functionality. <br />Level 3 involves the expansion of the Whitted Building and the Southern Human Services <br />Center. The Whitted building would accommodate the library, which would double in size to <br />approximately 25,000 square feet. This is based on 45,000 sq.ft. of additional space on three levels and <br />would accommodate projected needs for all departments. It does relocate human services functions now <br />in rental space like Human Rights and Relations and OPC Mental Health -Family Counseling Center and <br />create new entrances by function for high traffic activities. <br />The Southern Human Services Center would expand off of the east side of the building and <br />create a longer building and accommodate the needs of DSS and Health until 2010. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that as Orange County grows our County complex will grow. If <br />we decide we can't consolidate County operations in Hillsborough, then we will have to figure out where <br />we are going to put our County buildings. Hillsborough does not want tall buildings that will block the view <br />of the open area. She feels that three stories might be okay and we could try for a parking deck. The <br />Justice Facility building could be moved back from the street a few feet. <br />Commissioner Brown asked about the first justice facility building and if this will <br />accommodate all the court personnel and Pam Jones said that it would accommodate the Sheriff's <br />department and all other court personnel who are now in rental space. There are a couple of options for <br />Human Rights and Relations. One is that they could take the office being vacated by the Visitor's Bureau <br />and another is expansion within the building they now occupy. <br />Chair Jacobs said that we also could talk about the possibility of moving Parks and Recreation <br />over to the Planning and Ag building which would also accommodate expansion of OPC. Also, we could <br />consider locating Recreation and Parks to the Blackwood Park or to the Homestead location. We might <br />want to look at this in the light of having other options. We talked about colocation of public works with <br />Hillsborough. Pam Jones said that she did check with Eric Peterson and he is not in support of this idea. <br />She will continue pursing this idea. <br />John Link said that he feels that further discussion will be necessary to colocate facilities. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to working with Hillsborough and suggested that the <br />two managers work together and that the chair work with the Mayor on this effort of colocation. He feels <br />we should push it and promote it. He would like to schedule a meeting as soon as possible and put this <br />before them. <br />Chair Jacobs suggested that the County Commissioners may want to have a meeting with <br />the Hillsborough Town Commissioners and have colocation as one of the items among others. <br />