Orange County NC Website
12 <br /> <br /> <br />7. Reports <br />a. “The 203 Project” Update – Orange County Southern Branch Library <br />The Board received an update on “The 203 Project”, including the design process and <br />key points within the Development Agreement between Orange County and the Town of <br />Carrboro. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In October 2017, the Board of Orange County Commissioners approved the <br />Development Agreement between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County for the <br />development of a building on Carrboro owned property located at 203 South Greensboro Street <br />in Carrboro. The Building is contemplated to house the Orange County Southern Branch <br />Library and various administrative spaces for the Town of Carrboro (note Attachment 1: <br />“Development Agreement”). The Board has received information item updates as the <br />Development Agreement process has progressed since the execution of the Development <br />Agreement. <br /> <br />Timeline of Key Developments <br />In accordance with a Request for Qualifications process in early 2018, Carrboro engaged <br />Perkins + Will as the project architect and titled the project “The 203 Project” in March 2018. <br /> <br />Through the late spring and summer of 2018, the Town of Carrboro held four public input <br />sessions (June 13, July 23, and two sessions on August 4) on the vision and program for the <br />“The 203 Project.” Perkins + Will received over 300 responses either in person or online from <br />community members. <br /> <br />Joint stakeholder meetings consisting of staff members from the Town of Carrboro, Orange <br />County, the ArtsCenter and WCOM-FM occurred throughout June, July, August and September <br />2018 to process the feedback gathered in the input sessions, plan for shared spaces within the <br />overall building program, examine cost-benefit relationships, and to review site and space <br />planning options that can be mutually supported. <br /> <br />The Board received a memo on September 4, 2018 (Attachment 2) regarding the progress on <br />“The 203 Project” including the work with the Perkins + Will, the project architects, and the <br />stakeholders of Town of Carrboro, Orange County, the ArtsCenter and WCOM-FM. <br /> <br />On September 4, 2018 the Carrboro Board of Aldermen held a public hearing and endorsed the <br />recommended schematic design, “The Commons”. Work on the project continues to move <br />forward as contemplated in the Development Agreement between Orange County and the Town <br />of Carrboro. County staff is satisfied that “The Commons” schematic design provides the library <br />the necessary space, operational efficiency and visibility. An overview of “The Commons” <br />design highlights is provided within Attachment 3. <br /> <br />On September 20, 2018 a public session was held at the Carrboro Town Hall for review of the <br />recommended schematic design, “The Commons.” Town advisory boards and the public were <br />asked to make further comments regarding Design, Site Development, Parking and Teen <br />Center. <br /> <br />At a planned joint work session on October 25, 2018, the Board of Orange County <br />Commissioners and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen will review the preliminary schematic <br />design, “The Commons”, as well as preliminary probable costs developed by the Bree Group of