LAURINBURG — It is one of downtown’s largest open spaces and is currently being used as a parking lot by business owners and customers to get from Point A to Point B.
But Laurinburg officials envision the space as a whole lot more.
The city has hired McAdams Company, a Durham civil engineering firm, to convert the vacant square sitting behind businesses on Railroad, Gill, Main and Roper streets into “a thriving” civic space.
Dan Lambert, lead planner with McAdams, said the space in its current form seems an unlikely destination for a fun, but it could be.
“Our aim is to create a vibrant civic space that plays hosts to many functions, festival, and experience going forward but also helps spur economic development and the continued revitalization of downtown Laurinburg,” he said.
The city wants to create a flexible, functional and attractive civic space that incorporates the outdoor areas for use by adjacent businesses and residents that can serve as a green space and a parking lot. There is already a recently completed brick walkway connecting to the space.
Officials have yet to determine a final price tag for the project, which could take up to 24 months.
“It’s far too early to know how much it will cost,” said Michael Mandeville, the community development director for the city. “It just depends on how much buying the property, burying the utilities, and how much green space there will be.”
Mandeville said Laurinburg would be applying for grants for the project.
The work has yet to be included in the upcoming budget.
“There is nothing in the budget for this project for this year,” Mandeville said. “If the budget gets passed, we’ll hopefully secure the property and all the parcels or come to a lease agreement with the owners.”
Lambert presented some ideas for the area to the Laurinburg City Council in January. A more developed concept will be shown to council before officials make a decision.
The city began looking for consultants in October of 2017. McAdams was one of three firms who was interviewed for the project in December and was chosen a week later.
Lambert is working with General Services Director Harold Haywood, Downtown Development Coordinator Daniel Walters, City Manager Charles Nichols and Mandeville.
There will also be a team of designers, planners, and engineers working on the project to explore what the site has to offer and come up with a design and program that will best enhance the downtown area.
The civil engineering firm should have the first phase of planning completed by June.
“We are excited at the possibilities. Laurinburg is a town with good bones and is deserving of this kind of focus and vision,” said Lambert. “The City is fortunate to have a government that sees value in these types of pursuits. In our experience, these types of projects can be a catalyst that re-injects life into a city.”
