By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
CARRBORO — A 2.9-acre parcel of land adjacent to Carrboro Elementary School could become the site of a downtown branch library, county officials announced Wednesday afternoon.
Commissioners approved a contract on the parcel, which has an easement to Hillsborough Road but sits just off the western edge of the school’s front parking lot and baseball diamond.
According to the contract, the county has agreed to pay $610,000 for the site. According to a statement released Wednesday announcing the contract, the county has 180 days to review the site before deciding whether to go ahead with the purchase.
“We are happy to move forward in providing library services for the southern part of Orange County. This fulfills a goal and desire the commissioners have had for some time,†Valerie Foushee, chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners said in the statement.
Commissioner Mike Nelson said meeting the goal of a southwestern branch has been difficult, and finding a suitable site in downtown Carrboro doubly so.
Money for the purchase became available, he said, after the county was able to sell off some of its surplus property.
Nelson said commissioners had decided to dedicate some of the proceeds from the surplus-property sale to a southwestern branch library.
“Overall, it’s a good site,†Nelson said. “It’s adjacent to the school and within walking distance to Town Hall and the farmers’ market.â€
Should it look like the county is going to move ahead with the purchase, Nelson said he expects commissioners and the board of aldermen to quickly enter into discussion on how best to develop the site.
“No site is going to be ideal,†he said, adding that the nearly three-acre parcel is about as large a downtown site as the county could hope for.
