The fate of New Hanover County’s old administrative office building at 320 Chestnut Street will come up for consideration Monday morning when the county commission convenes for regular business.
The commissioners will discuss whether to renovate or demolish the six-story downtown structure, which the county vacated in 2006 in favor of new office space at the former Marketplace Mall off S. College Road. The Chestnut Street building is currently empty.
If the county pursues demolition, it would erect a new building in its place as the government is in need of office space, according to a September 13 presentation from staff to commissioners. The offices of Public Defender, Guardian Ad Litem, Community Services and Register of Deeds could be in line for it.
Staff’s initial recommendation was renovation with $10 million previously appropriated, but commissioners following last week’s presentation wanted to keep the rebuilding option on the table.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the New Hanover County Historic Courthouse, 24 N. Third Street in Wilmington, and will also include a public hearing on, and possible approval of, a contract with Covanta Energy to refurbish the county’s trash-to-energy conversion facility. The $32.6 million measure is meant to reduce the stream of waste entering the cramped landfill off U.S. 421.
Click here for a related story about the Covanta proposal.
The agenda additionally includes a proclamation for the Big Sweep and Fall Litter Sweep events, an annual update from the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority, and consideration of legislative goals to send to the N.C. Association of County Commissioners.
The full agenda is viewable here.
