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<br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that this little house has been under discussion for 14 <br />years. He thinks that it is a shame that 14 years has been lost regarding this facility. He <br />suggested issuing a challenge to the new County Manager to bring this to a conclusion. He <br />said that this is government at its worse. <br />Commissioner Carey agreed with Commissioner Halkiotis about this house. He said <br />that the last time this was discussed, the projected cost of upfitting the facility to meeting room <br />standards was so high that the County Commissioners decided not to do anything. If the house <br />is left to sit there, it will be a constraint to the development of other buildings on the site. He <br />suggested finding a way to move this house off site for someone to use it as affordable housing. <br />This would give more flexibility in using the site. <br />Pam Janes said that with the house removed, there are significant hardwoods around <br />the house, but they could be protected and survive with additional construction. <br />Chair Jacobs would like to see the alternatives since he has seen haw the trees have <br />been treated with the construction of the senior center. He wants to be sure that the Board will <br />protect these hardwoods. He asked staff to bring back alternatives with costs. <br />Commissioner Carey agreed with protecting the hardwoods. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Anne Henley spoke about the Inter-Faith Council's interest in the use of the Homestead <br />campus. She thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its support of IFC, especially the <br />Homestar program. She said that at an Assembly of Governments meeting last spring <br />Commissioner Halkiotis suggested that Orange County property on Homestead Road be <br />considered as a location for the proposed men's residential facility and perhaps other IFC <br />operations. Pursuant to that suggestion, IFC members and government representatives met on <br />July 19th, and the consensus was that IFC was to make a formal request to the Board of County <br />Commissioners far some portion of the Homestead Road campus to be made available to IFC. <br />IFC made this request and received a response from Chair Jacobs. She said that IFC <br />appreciates the opportunity to request that I FC be a factor in the discussions of uses of the <br />property. She pointed out three facts: anew men's residential facility is a key element for IFC's <br />future role and viability in serving the homeless {term of occupancy is limited for the building in <br />Chapel Hill), IFC has actively considered every reasonably located site proposed and to date all <br />efforts have been unsuccessful, and IFC needs Orange County officials and other units of <br />government to help IFC secure a location for this facility. <br />Commissioner Gordan said that Orange County has not really considered all possibilities <br />of County property for an IFC shelter. She said that she talked with Lee Pavao, President of the <br />Friends of the Senior Center, and who has surveyed some seniors. There were some concerns <br />about this residential facility being near the senior center. The concerns were that since food <br />would be served at their center, this may be a draw for the homeless; there would be an <br />increase in nighttime activities; and since Program Homestart is located nearby, there is <br />concern about the families involved in this as some of them are victims of domestic violence. <br />She said that the County Commissioners never directed staff to see if there are any other <br />suitable County properties far IFC. She suggested asking Pam Jones and staff to see if there <br />are alternative properties. She thinks it is important to see, if the men's facility were located <br />here, how it would mesh with the senior center and Project Homestart. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the next steps would be to ask staff to engage Chapel Hill more <br />aggressively in talking about the old post office and its long-term viability as a court facility. If <br />Chapel Hill really supports moving the men's shelter out of its facility, then some of the people <br />could be moved from the Moody Building into the old past office. He suggested that staff come <br />back to the Board in a timely manner with an analysis, and contact Chapel Hill on where it sees <br />the old post office going. Also, he would like to solicit comment from Social Services, Health, <br />and Aging about the alternatives for the Homestead Road campus. <br />