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The 203 Project will be the future home of Orange County Southern Branch Library to serve residents in or near southern Orange County. It is located at 203 S. Greensboro Street, an existing Carrboro municipal parking lot near the center of the town. The facility will also provide a permanent home for the Orange County Skills Development Center; Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department; WCOM Radio, and performance/multipurpose uses. The 203 Project is a combined effort that will offer a community based facility that will provide opportunities for education, art, and connection.
- Ben Schmadake
Capital Project Manager
Town of Carrboro
919-918-7424
bschmadeke@carrboronc.gov - Catherine Lazorko
Communication and Engagement Director
Town of Carrboro
919-918-27314
clazorko@carrboronc.gov - Trish McGuire
Planning Director
Town of Carrboro
919-918-7327
pmcguire@carrboronc.gov
- Groundbreaking Event - 4 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2022
- Orange County Southern Branch Library
- Orange County Skills Development Center
- Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department
- Additionally, the center will also house WCOM Radio, the Virtual Justice Center, and performance/multipurpose uses.
- Opportunities for education, art, and connection. This building will be accessible to all individuals and will enhance the quality of life in our area.
- The current town-owned parking lot at 203 S. Greensboro St., across from Open Eye Café, currently has 88 parking spaces inside the fence and 12 parking spaces on the edges, for a total of 100 parking spaces. Upon completion, the new facility will include a parking deck with 171 parking spaces. About 70 bike parking spots are also planned for the site.
- The Town is acquiring additional parking leases to help ensure that there is no loss of parking during construction. These leases will be finalized, and lots improved before the start of construction.
- The new center will be accessible from Chapel Hill Transit bus routes CW, F, and J routes, the Go Triangle 405 route, a soon-to-be-built sidewalk along S. Greensboro Street, and the Libba Cotten Bikeway.
- The new center also will be near the recently announced home of The Arts Center on Roberson Street and the existing Carrboro Century Center at Greensboro and E. Main streets.
- The total project cost including design; construction; furnishings, fixtures and equipment; and contingency is $41,174,840.
- The Town of Carrboro will contribute $18.9 million. The Town will use debt financing to cover the majority of the project with $6.3 million from its cash reserves.
- The Town of Carrboro is providing the land.
- Orange County will contribute $22.2 million. In addition to debt financing for the majority of the project, the BOCC agreed to use $3 million from its cash reserves.
- Carrboro and Orange County will cover their own costs for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
- The first year of library operations could cost $537,670. Annual operating costs for the Carrboro’s portion of facility programming is estimated at $80,000.
- The project has received an Orange County Community Climate Action Grant of $40,568 for solar and green roof features.
- The project also has received a Duke Energy Smart Saver Custom Energy Efficiency Incentive in amount of $48,552.
- Project information including Council public hearing agendas.