Lake Norman Publications

Board OK’s nearly $1 million for town hall planning



The white structure shown illustrates potential placement and size – not architectural specifics or anticipated exterior appearance – of a multi-story town hall near Huntersville’s Town Center.   Courtesy Edifice LLC

HUNTERSVILLE – The town’s governing body has not decided to move forward with financing and construction of a new town hall, but in a 4-2 vote it has agreed to finance planning and design steps to get a clearer perspective of current and future administrative space needs and the anticipated investment a new facility would require.

During its May 17 session, the town board was introduced to the team selected as the best candidate for pre-construction and design services to determine the details of a potential town hall. Representatives of Charlotte-based Edifice LLC – Project Executive Mike Carlisto and Senior Project Manager Tim Bender – were joined by Lead Designer Brent Green from the Creech & Associates design and architectural firm to provide a general overview of the steps they will oversee to determine the best placement, recommended size, preferred design and, ultimately, anticipate cost of a new 30,000 to 40,000 square foot, multi-story town hall built on town-owned property in the southwest corner of the N.C. 115/Gilead Road intersection.

The board agenda item was approval of a $960,000 Preliminary Services Agreement with Edifice for services including stakeholder discussions, a space needs study, schematic design analysis and estimates, design development, preparation of construction documents and the evaluation and prequalification of potential subcontractors in the company’s role as the design-build contractor.

The $960,000 represents just over 8 percent of the current $12.86 million estimate for design and construction. Factoring all other construction-related issues, including ground testing, audio-visual equipment, furnishings and fixtures, the penciled-in price tag for the possible project – which would be financed with a loan – is just shy of $14 million.

However, the upcoming 10 to 12 month period of design and planning work, followed by the bidding process Carlisto said would likely begin by April of next year, will provide a more accurate picture of what to expect in terms of total expenditures.

“The market is very volatile right now,” Carlisto said in response to a question from Mayor John Aneralla about an updated estimate on total cost. He added that a positive factor could be that the current pandemic-recovery demand for supplies and services may level off by the time bids are solicited.

While the board action – with commissioners Stacy Phillips and Don Boone voting in opposition – authorized design and planning expenditures, discussion about a new town hall has not ended.

Based on the timeline in Carlisto’s presentation to the board, as part of the Edifice team’s role in the design-build process, it will deliver a maximum price guarantee to the board next spring. At that time, commissioners will decide whether to pursue the project.

If approved, Caristo said the goal would be to have the new facility ready for occupancy before July 1, 2023.

A new Huntersville Town Hall would be built in the open space at the corner of N.C. 115 and Gilead Road. Courtesy Edifice LLC

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