Agenda - 09-30-1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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042 (used to house probation officers, public defender, Sheriff, JTPA, and Social Services, juvenile court counselors, child support and Section 8 Housing Program) would be displaced by the Town's action to use the Old Police Building after July 12, 1987. The remaining 5,580 at Carr Mill Mall (used for health clinics and the environmental inspections staff) is costing the high rental rate of $9.75 per foot, adjusted annually to the rate of inflation. As mentioned in a report to the Board in November 1984 it would be better for the County to be making payments on an owned building than to be paying the combined cost of $1Q5.155 per year for rental space in Chapel Hill ($50,750) and Carrboro ($54,405). An owned 20,000 square foot building would cost in the range of $1.2 to $1.5 million. It is not clear whether the Colombia Drive/Rosemary Street loca- tion is the best site or whether a joint venture would be the best arrangement. There are, however, some pluses in the pro- posal that are readily apparent. 1. The site is more suitable for diverse governmental purposes than County-owned land in what is termed the Northside neighborhood of Chapel Hill. 2. Sufficient parking should be available with 1,000 current and planned spaces. 3. For the Town and County to locate in a manner to allow sharing of public meeting rooms would avoid the duplication of each developing separate facilities for such. 4. Preliminary calculation shows that enough land is available to meet Town and County needs at the site and still meet height and ratio of land to building requirements of the Town. Regardless of whether the Board accepts the Chapel Hill proposal of doing a combined feasibility study it is time for the County to begin deliberating on whether to construct a building for County functions in southern Orange and what the size that building should be. IMPACT: Cost to the County of using a consultant to do a space study would be approximately $6,000. Proposals have been requested from consulting firms. RECOMMENDATION(S): 1. Authorize that the County join with Chapel Hill in under- taking a study of (a) each jurisdiction's space needs, and (b) the feasibility of using the Colombia/Rosemary site as a possible location for a future local government center. 2. Authorize the County Manager to participate with the Town Manager in engaging a consulting firm to assist in develop- ing a report on the options available, at a County cost not to exceed $6,000. ' _