At last the Center City Garden project will move forward

ASHEBORO — A new year will mean more visible work on construction around Asheboro. 

City staffers say that includes the beginning of development for the David and Pauline Jarrell Center City Garden on South Cox Street.

Former Mayor David Jarrell attended the Dec. 4 city council meeting when they announced that Asheboro received more grant funding to work on the land he gifted to the city.

“It took us seven years,” he said. “That’s okay. It was worth waiting for.”

It’s one of several projects on which the city expects to see progress made in 2026. City Manager Donald Duncan told council members, “In short, you might have batting cages, construction at Lake Bunch, the garden project, project, and Fire Station #3 happening all at the same time.”

Center City Garden

For the garden, Assistant City Manager Trevor Nuttall announced that Asheboro was awarded an additional $790,335.56 through a Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV).

He said staff already have permits from the North Carolina Departments of Transportation and Environmental Quality, so they hope to choose a contractor by January.

The city has been pursuing additional CDBG-CV funding for more than a year. On Aug. 8, 2024, Nuttall said these grants, funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, are for elevating low and moderate-income families. Their uses can include public services or access to new or improved infrastructure. The city council moved $243,503 from a previous CDBG-CV award to the garden project and applied for more this year.

During this year’s budget meeting on May 14, Nuttall and Duncan explained that there was a strict deadline for municipalities to spend CBDG money or lose it. Because the planning was well under way, they felt Asheboro was well-positioned to keep the funding and get more.

Trade Street design update

Redesigning of Trade Street is close to 10-percent completion. Ana Wadsworth, project manager for The Wooten Company, laid out recommendations for utilities and streetscapes.

She listed the types of utilities the company expects to be part of the overhaul:

■ Replace water mains: 6-inch line on North Street, 8-inch line on Trade Street.

■ Replace sanitary sewer: 8-inch line on Trade Street.

■ Replace gas service: 2-inch line on Trade Street.

■ Bury electric utilities on both North and Trade Streets.

Wadsworth said the firm did a geotechnical investigation to make sure the space could handle that, and it appeared feasible. Mayor Joseph Trogdon, Jr. asked if the soil can handle it. Wadsworth said it may need some undercutting, but the soil appeared good.

For the streetscape, Wooten said its design is close to complete with additions to try to beautify the area and manage driving speeds:

■ Stamped and colored asphalt at crosswalks, intersections, and central locations.

■ Scored sidewalks that simulate a look similar to Sunset Avenue.

■ Traffic calming islands to prevent one-way vehicular traffic from using it as a quick thru-lane.

■ Benches and landscape planters.

“The city made very clear that this is more of an infrastructure, utility renovation, not really a streetscape,” Wadsworth said. “But obviously, when you enhance all the utilities and replace them, you have the opportunity to make the street a little more viable. Obviously, it will enhance the appearance. All the overhead electric lines could be buried, which are kind of an eyesore. It can be an extension of some downtown events and stimulate commerce.”

Council member Phil Skeen asked how this will affect the southside businesses. Nuttall said city staff will only work on the public right of way, but they hope property owners will take advantage of the time to improve their facades. He said the city also anticipates providing support for reconnecting the buildings to the underground lines.

Wadsworth said the next steps are to finalize construction documents and permitting, including for raising curb and gutters on North Street, flush streetscape on Trade Street, ADA compliance, and pedestrian safety.

The Trade Street renovation has been a priority of Downtown Asheboro, Inc. since 2021. The city received a $1.5 million infrastructure grant from the state to move forward and selected Wooten to lead the design production in 2022.

Covering the Batting Cage

Council members approved the cost for the cover on a new batting cage at McCrary Park. They moved $174,774.25 in project and contingency funds into the McCrary Ballpark Improvement Fund.

Council member Charles Swiers asked about the construction timeframe. Facilities Director Jimmy Cagle said he expects crews to start work on the batting tunnels around Jan. 5 and for it to be fully complete by June.