Construction on new renovations for the Carrboro Town Commons has been approved by the Board of Alderman to begin in November or December.

The Town of Carrboro’s Public Works Director James “JD” Freeman spoke at the board’s meeting last Tuesday about the proposed final plan to the area.

“What the upgrades do, it provides a flexible space at Town Commons, of course for the farmer’s market, but also for multiple events, public and festivals, that are held on these grounds,” Freeman said.

Some of the upgrades include: widening the parking lot and creating 90 degree parking spaces instead of slanted, public restrooms on-site, additional storage for the Farmer’s Market and town staff, increasing electrical availability and adding more lighting around the area.

These changes were made after hearing from the board when it was first proposed, as well as hearing from the residents through an online survey created for public comment.

In the initial plans, there were ideas for a second phase of the Town Commons which included a pass through Laurel Avenue but that was changed after further investigation of the current roadways.

The town has decided to do away with the phase two plans until receiving more data from the NCDOT on the types of cars that travel the area, considering the small area that would be created for a pass-through roadway.

The board seemed most excited about the renovations in regards to the Farmer’s Market every Saturday in Town Commons because of its high popularity in Carrboro. Former Carrboro Farmer’s Market Manager Erin Jobe shared her excitement for the new upgrades.

“We are thrilled to see this project go forward. This project will be incredible for the market. It’s the thing that we need, the fresh face of the market, the thing that will sustain the market into the future,” Jobe said.

This project has been estimated at $90 thousand and town manager David Andrews said since the bank would not be able to provide secured debt funding if the project were to go over budget, due to the type of project it is, they plan to use town reserve funds if necessary.

Related Stories
‹
Carrboro Town Councilmember Eliazar Posada Named Equality NC Interim Director
Carrboro Town Councilmember Eliazar Posada was named the interim director of Equality NC on Thursday. Equality NC is an organization which advocates for rights and protections for the LGBTQ+ in North Carolina. “We are committed to fostering an inclusive LGBTQ+ community in North Carolina,” Posada said, “a space where everyone thrives authentically, supported by unwavering […]
Orange County Governments to Vote on LGBTQ Anti-Discrimination Laws
Following the expiration of a three-year state ban blocking those protections, local governments in Orange County will consider adopting new safeguards against LGBTQ discrimination at their respective meetings this week.
Chapel Hill, Carrboro Score Highly for Support of LGBTQ Communities
Both towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro recently received high scores in the 2019 Municipal Equality Index. The index measures a town’s efforts in LGBTQ inclusion in terms of municipal law, policies and services. Many companies refer to the Human Rights Campaign report when considering relocation and expansion. Chapel Hill mayor Pam Hemminger says while […]
UNC Students Living in Carrboro: Perception Versus Reality
A presentation by university officials to Carrboro’s Board of Aldermen at a meeting earlier this month showed that two-thirds of UNC students living in Carrboro were graduate students. The presentation, given by UNC’s executive director of Off-Campus Student Life Aaron Bachenheimer and director of Housing and Residential Education Allan Blattner, also showed that the number […]
Town of Carrboro Begins Yearly Budget Process
Carrboro’s Board of Alderman held a public hearing on its yearly budget last week, offering citizens an opportunity to get involved in the process. Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle says that this year could be an opportunity to tackle some projects that the town has been deferring on for several years, which could require a tax […]
Carrboro Aldermen Pass Resolution Regarding Events in Charlottesville
The Carrboro Board of Aldermen held a special meeting last night to announce a resolution regarding demonstrations by white supremacists in Charlottesville last weekend. A town hall full of tearful and seemingly shell shocked citizens listened on as the Board of Aldermen denounced what they described as “hatred, bigotry and violence” displayed by white supremacists, […]
Timeline Laid Out For New Library
A timeline has been laid out for the future library and multi-use arts center to be located on South Greensboro St. between Carr and Roberson St. According to Mayor Lyida Lavelle, a development agreement could be coming soon. “We’re in the process of finalizing a development agreement with the county commissioners who are also excited […]
North Carolina LGBTQ Elected Officials Discuss HB2 Vs. House Bill 142
When UNC’s LGBTQ Representation and Rights Research Initiative first invited a panel of LGBT elected officials to speak on campus, House Bill 2 was still fully enacted. But, by the time the April 7 event – which was held at UNC’s FedEx Global Center – rolled around, the situation surrounding House Bill 2 had become […]
LGBT Elected Officials Holding Forum at UNC
Fourteen elected officials who identify as LGBTQ will hold a forum Friday called “Being LGTBQ in North Carolina.” The guest list includes former Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, Carrboro Alderperson Damon Seils, NC Representative Cecil Brockman and Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle. Lavelle said it’s a crucial time to create dialogue about LGBTQ representation. “This will […]
Carrboro Board Approves New Plans for Town Commons Renovations
Construction on new renovations for the Carrboro Town Commons has been approved by the Board of Alderman to begin in November or December. The Town of Carrboro’s Public Works Director James “JD” Freeman spoke at the board’s meeting last Tuesday about the proposed final plan to the area. “What the upgrades do, it provides a […]
›