AGENDA #5b
Status of Capital Projects
Second Quarter 2002-2003
Ending December 31, 2002
There follows a brief status report on the capital projects on which Town staff are now working, preceded by a note on the major projects recently completed.
Recently completed projects include:
Fire Station #5
Project: Construction of a building to house a fire pumper truck and a fire crew on part of a 9-acre parcel on the southeast corner of the intersection of U.S. 15-501 South and Bennett Road, across from Southern Village.
Budget: $1,278,300, including $1,000,000 from 1996 Public Safety Bonds.
Status: Building occupied January 2002; trailer returned and lease with Hillsong Church closed out. All punch list items completed except replacement of dead plants. The completion of Bennett Road by North Carolina Department of Transportation contractor is anticipated next quarter.
Lower Booker Creek Greenway Phase II
Phase II: Construction of a 10’-wide concrete trail from East Franklin Street near Eastgate north along the west side of Booker Creek to Tadley Drive. The trail then continues from Daley Road on the east side of the creek to Booker Creek Road.
Budget: $635,200 including NCDOT grant and Town funds.
Status: Complete, within budget. Dedication held October 7. Some additional work will be done to reinforce a stream bank to prevent damage from storm events. This work is expected to take place in 2003 using remaining project funds.
Park/Ride Lot: Jones Ferry Road
Project: Construction of a 450-space park/ride lot with access from Old Fayetteville Road to Jones Ferry Road.
Budget: $1,263,800 including $907,000 from Federal Transit Administration, $113,400 from the State and $243,400 from the Town’s Transportation Fund.
Status: Substantially complete on October 21 when public use began. Final approval from the Town of Carrboro for landscaping received in December.
Culbreth Road Sidewalk
Project: Contract project on south side of roadway from end of Culbreth Park sidewalk to start of Cobblestone sidewalk. Completed in December for $172,000 from CIP and Street bond funds.
Streetscape Segment
Project: Reconstruction of sidewalk and amenity strip along South Franklin Street, between The Gap and Porthole Alley, including installation of underground conduit bank, reconstruction of raised brick planters, construction of steps and installation of railings, replacement of ailing trees and installation of modular newspaper racks.
Budget: $98,000 of Street Bond funds including Percent for Art, and $9,000 of funds from Public Arts Commission.
Status: Town crews completed work in September. The Percent for Art Program included installation of four benches in October at a cost of $13,990, including $4,990 of Town funds.
Projects in various stages of work are described below.
Airport Gardens Renovations
Project: Comprehensive renovations of 26-unit public housing neighborhood on Airport Road.
Budget: $528,000 for Phase I. Final amount will depend on need identified by design work and by availability of HUD funding over the next fiscal year or two.
Status: Architect selected and will design work in January, with attention paid to site work and drainage issues as well as renovation of interior of apartments.
Aquatics Center
Project: Construction of an aquatic facility and possibly a community center, on a site in Homestead Park. Council-approved conceptual plan includes competitive pool, warm water pool, locker rooms, office, classroom and reception area.
Budget: Total of $5,555,000, including $1,200,000 from 1996 Town Park bonds and $855,000 from 1997, and $3,500,000 from 2001 Orange County Park and Recreation bonds.
Status: On March 5, 2001, Council adopted the conceptual Plan and requested that Board of County Commissioners release remaining $855,000 in 1997 bonds. Commissioners’ draft bond sale schedule includes the sale of $3.5 million in 2003-04 for this project. Committee of elected officials from both jurisdictions appeared to be close to agreement in July on process for joint development of Southern Community Park; Commissioners said last summer that they would act on the park plan and the process by November. Now we expect their action in February. This process, once approved by the Commissioners, may be adaptable for use with aquatic center. No work on aquatic center is possible until a process is jointly approved for development of projects which include County bond funds.
Booker Creek Linear Park
Project: Construction of a park and trail along Booker Creek from East Franklin Street to U.S. 15-501 Bypass, between Eastgate and Village Plaza commercial areas.
Budget: $437,100, including $349,700 from North Carolina Department of Transportation and the local match of $87,400.
Status: Rose Engineering completed the study needed for the No Rise Certificate from FEMA, and found that the original concept plan was not feasible. Council approved relocation of the pedestrian bridge in June 2002 and plans have been revised. Drawings of easements needed are now available and are being discussed with owners; one easement has been granted but easements from Eastgate and Mark Properties are not yet available.
Burning Tree Drive Drainage Project
Project: Replacement of undersized storm drainage pipes under Burning Tree Drive and broadening of channel downstream.
Budget: $67,625 of Street bond funds.
Status: In-house design complete and being reviewed by OWASA. If three easements can be negotiated, contractor could begin work in March.
Chapel Hill Museum Roof Replacement
Project: Replacement of roof, which has reached the end of its useful life.
Budget: $60,000 to be financed over 10 years.
Status: First step of financing was taken by Council September 9. Contract was executed on December 20, 2002. Completion is projected by the end of March 2003.
Dry Creek Trail
Project: Land acquisition north of I-40 and construction of a trail from East Chapel Hill High School to Providence Road. Another branch of the trail is proposed to connect Chapel Hill and Durham trail systems on land north of I-40.
Budget: $270,800, including a $200,000 grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and 1996 Open Space bonds.
Status: Sterling Ridge Apartments completed a trail segment from Providence Road to Erwin Ridge subdivision. Eagle Scouts have cleared a trail corridor from East Chapel Hill School to Perry Creek Road. Stairs and boardwalk have been constructed between San Juan Road and Perry Creek Road using a National Trails Program grant and Eagle Scout volunteers.
All necessary properties south of I-40 have been acquired. Negotiations with owners of two parcels north of I-40 were unsuccessful. However, acquisition of a third parcel north of I-40 as approved by Council on November 11, is likely to occur during the next quarter. If this acquisition is successful, owners of the other two parcels will be approached again.
Hargraves Center/A.D. Clark Bath House Renovations
Project: Perform extraordinary maintenance identified in 2000 Facilities Assessment Study, including, at the Center, replacement of interior surfaces, of electrical, heating and air conditioning systems, and plumbing fixtures; adding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible entrance and restroom facilities, and repairing the roof; and at the bath house, raising the roof, adding day lighting, adding ADA accessible entrances and restroom facilities and replacement of all surfaces and mechanical equipment; and replacement of mechanical equipment and repouring the floor of the pump house.
Budget: $1,200,000 to be financed over 10 years included in CIP from 2001- 2010.
Status: Work began in April, and has been proceeding steadily and with high standards of quality. Change orders adding significant work, such as removal of asbestos, replacement of siding, roofing membrane, water-damaged sheathing and window flashing on the Center, more extensive reconstruction of the bath house, and more repairs on the pool have extended completion date to March 31.
IFC Shelter
Project: Extraordinary and deferred maintenance as defined in 2000 Facilities Assessment Study, with emphasis on exterior repairs necessary to protect the structure.
Budget: $340,000 to be financed over 10 years included in CIP from 2002-3 – 2011-12.
Status: First step of financing taken by Council September 9. We are currently negotiating with an engineering consulting firm for roof repair design services. We expect to complete the design work during the third quarter and advertise for bids on the roof repair project during the fourth quarter.
Police Headquarters Renovations
Project: Repair of the leaks and the damage caused by them, replacement of roof and roof-mounted air conditioning units and any other work needed to preserve the public’s asset.
Budget: $700,000 of 1996 Public Safety Bonds.
Status: Initial contract of $500,000 provided for repair and renovation, completing the waterproofing of all underground walls, replacement of the roof, replacement of the air conditioning units on the roof and repair of floor and wall surfaces on the first floor. The remaining $200,000 will provide for additional work on building security, flooring and wall surfaces on the second floor, a safer configuration of the magistrate’s office, storage and office space.
Old Post Office Renovations
Project: Extraordinary and deferred maintenance as defined in 2000 Facilities Assessment Study.
Budget: $1,196,000 to be financed.
Status: Project was not funded this year due to budget constraints in June 2002. However, the writing of specifications are tentatively scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter with the expectation of the installment financing being sold and construction contracts let in 2003-04. Financing term will be determined at completion of design work and estimation of amount of capital needed.
Pritchard Park
Project: Construction of a primarily passive park on the 34 acres of Town-owned land surrounding the library, including trails, small playground and a sculpture garden.
Budget: $164,000, including a $100,000 gift from the Pritchard family.
Status: A committee consisting of representatives of the Library Board, Public Arts Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission worked with Town and Hotel Siena staff, and all agreed on a recommendation to Council, based on conceptual plan adopted by Council in November 2000. The Council approved a proposed financial agreement with the Siena on November 25 , 2002. A memorandum of understanding between the Town and the Siena was held in abeyance until the Land Use Management Ordinance was enacted so the size of the Resource Conservation District would become clear. Once the memorandum is written and executed, detailed planning and permitting can proceed. In the meantime, trails are being built by Eagle Scout candidates, and the Audubon Road stub-out roadbed has been removed and seeded.
Pritchard Park Renovations
Project: Comprehensive renovations of 15-unit public housing neighborhood on Pritchard Drive Extension.
Budget: $960,700, including HUD’s Capital Grant and Community Development Block Grant funds.
Status: Site work, including demolition, concrete, and rehabilitation work in the first phase of 6 units began in June. Progress was delayed due to long fabrication time for windows and delivery of other components. The contractor may still be able to meet original completion date in May 2003, now that materials and supplies have been received for all phases. Occupancy of the first six units is anticipated in January.
Public Works/Transit Operations Facility
Project: Acquisition of land for and design and development of operations facilities for the Public Works Department, Transportation Department, the Police Vehicle Impoundment Lot, and Housing Maintenance.
Budget: Final budget will be determined after initial design is completed. $368,000 has been budgeted for the preliminary consultant work.
Status: Fifty-four acres north of Eubanks Road, west of I-40 and east of Millhouse Road, acquired and financed for a total capital cost of $876,000 in 2001. Additional 7 acres north of this parcel acquired by gift in 2001, and 14 acres on the southern boundary purchased in December 2003 at a cost of $239,000. Council approved contract with team led by Corley Redfoot Zack for conceptual plan and cost estimates December 9, 2002. Questionnaires completed by Town staff of four departments and returned to consultants for their assessment of needs.
Sidewalks
Fordham Boulevard:
Contract project on west side of roadway, from Days Inn to Willow Drive. Design completed by Engineering Department after lengthy informal negotiations with NCDOT, but NCDOT personnel changes have caused plans to be revised. NCDOT has approved revised plans and negotiations are on-going for easement. Budget of $100,000 from 1996 Street bond funds.
West Rosemary Street:
In-house design and Public Works crews will build sidewalk from IFC Community House to Church Street on north side of the street, with $18,000 of CIP sidewalk funds. Work delayed by need to acquire several easements and to consider redesign of one block.
Weaver Dairy Road:
Sidewalk from Cedar Fork Trail to Kingston Drive, along the south side of Weaver Dairy Road. Budget includes $180,000 of 1996 Street Bond funds. Funds being held until NCDOT’s road improvement project is ready to be bid.
On November 25, the Town Council approved a list of top-priority sidewalk projects to be implemented next, but the ice storm and its aftermath preempted all staff time that would have been spent on sidewalks during December.
Southern Community Park
Project: Community park to include soccer fields, woods and trails, paved paths, play areas, dog park, parking and site for a community center.
Budget: $1,090,000 from 1986 Town of Chapel Hill Parks bonds; and $658,000 from 1989 Town of Chapel Hill Parks bonds for land acquisition. $895,000 of 1997 Orange County Bond funds; $2 million of 2001 Orange County bond funds. County Commissioners on January 26, 2002. Board of County Commissioners considering conceptual plan and a process for the planning and construction of projects that include County bond funds. Answers on both were first scheduled for November and now are expected in February. Latest schedule for sale of County bonds includes $1 million in 2004-05 and $1 million in 2005-06 for this park.
Streetscape
Project: Improve sidewalks, street trees, street furniture and street lighting along Town Center streets, including Franklin and Rosemary Streets, from east of Henderson Street to Merritt Mill Road, and the connecting side streets. Intention is to implement in increments the plan adopted by the Council in 1993, some of it being done by developers of adjacent land and some by Town forces.
Budget: $1,000,000 in 1996 Street Bond proceeds allocated, with $500,000 sold to date and $500,000 scheduled to be sold in March 2003. Approximately $678,000 has been expended or allocated to date.
Status: Segments completed on the north side of West Franklin Street from Carolina Cleaners to Ham’s, from the multi-tenant retail building housing Vespa’s to Franklin Street Cycles, and from Bruegger’s Bagels to Columbia Street; on both sides of North Columbia Street from Franklin Street to Rosemary Street; on the north side of East Franklin Street from Columbia Street past Henderson Street to the Presbyterian Church, and on the south side of East Franklin Street from The Gap to Porthole Alley.
Developers completed the south side of East Franklin Street from The Gap around the corner of South Columbia Street to the Ackland Art Museum and in front of MacAllister’s Deli. The County’s contractor has recently completed the sidewalk in front of Orange County’s Skills Development Center. Council approved $60,000 of bond funds for this project.
On November 11, Council approved special street and pedestrian lighting and appropriated $292,000 of Street Bond funds for lighting most of the 100 block of East Franklin Street, most of North Columbia Street between Franklin and Rosemary Streets, and a small portion of West Franklin Street.
Council’s choice of the next segment is expected during the next quarter.