2003-09-11 Work Session
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 29
WORK SESSION, SEPTEMBER 11, 2003PAGE 752
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a work session on Thursday, September 11, 2003, at
6:00 p.m. in Conference Room 501 of the County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North
Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Ted Davis, Jr.; Vice-Chairman Robert G. Greer; Commissioner William A.
Caster; County Manager Allen O’Neal; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley and Deputy Clerk to the Board, Teresa P.
Elmore.
Commissioner Julia Boseman and Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett were unable to attend.
Chairman Davis called the meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the meeting was to hear a
presentation on the capital projects at Airlie Gardens. He said that before the Foundation Board of Directors move
forward in making some important decisions on certain projects, he wanted the Commissioners to be informed in case
they had any concerns or objections. He requested Thomas Herrera-Mishler, Director of Airlie Gardens, to begin the
presentation.
Director Herrera-Mishler began by saying that the Airlie Gardens Master Plan adopted by the Commissioners
in February 2002, was being refined by the Foundation’s facilities committee and Haden Stanziale, the Landscape
Architects, to focus on the building projects near the parking lot. Locating the buildings in that area will preserve the
vast majority of the grounds in their historic configuration. Furthermore, having all the utilities in one area of the
gardens will make a more efficient construction budget and will limit vehicular traffic to the driveway and parking area
so it will not interfere with people walking in the gardens.
Director Herrera-Mishler reported that the Airlie Cottage has been recently renovated to be used for the
administrative offices of Airlie. The garden entry and exit drives and the underground utilities have been funded and
placed for bid while the parking lot renovation remains in the design phase. The proposed Visitor’s Center and Garden
Services Center are in the planning phase. Stormwater issues have been discussed with the NC Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, who were excited about the use of innovative and state of the art techniques in
stormwater management. WK Dickson, engineers for the project, will submit the plans to the City’s TRC for approval.
The Foundation will be looking for potential donors to underwrite the cost of landscaping the area around the
Airlie Cottage into 16 small gardens with each having a different theme. These small gardens will be a major resource
for teaching and as a visitor amenity. Small signs will acknowledge specific donors.
Director Herrera-Mishler invited the Commissioners to attend a reception to welcome the new members of the
Foundation, which will be held at the Airlie Cottage on September 25.
Mr. Chip Hemingway, architect with BMS Architects, spoke on the plans to build the Visitor’s Center and
Services Center. He said that existing features of the entrance gate of brick and architectural concrete and the concrete
columns of the pergola will be incorporated into the proposed building plans. The Visitor’s Center will consist of a ticket
office for the gardens, gift shop, toilet facilities, reception area or lobby with exhibits showing the history and ecological
reports of Bradley Creek and Airlie Gardens, an outside concession area, catering kitchen, and a large multi-purpose
room with storage areas. The multi-purpose room will accommodate 300 people for a meeting or 150 for a dinner. A
terrace will accommodate outdoor dining and receptions and will lead to existing paths in the gardens. The Visitor’s
Center will be centrally located within view of the pergola, Airlie Oak, and the Bradley Creek Overlook. The outdoor
spaces were oriented to benefit from ocean breezes in the summer and to be protected from winter winds.
Director Herrera-Mishler pointed out that the Visitor’s Center would accommodate the needs of the public,
which would extend the amount of time a visitor stays in the gardens. Furthermore, by providing a place to shop and
eat, Airlie Gardens and the region would benefit economically.
Mr. Hemingway said that Airlie Gardens would receive significant income by providing night-time rentals of
the facilities and gardens. In its experience in the NC Aquariums building projects, BMS Architects found that similar
facilities made the most money from renting their facilities after hours. They designed more areas for receptions and
kitchens to better handle the night- time functions. He felt that Airlie Gardens would greatly benefit from having a
multi-purpose room and kitchen to handle meetings, receptions, and weddings.
Mr. Hemingway presented a sketch plan of the Visitor’s Center and he recommended that the exterior of the
building be brick or masonry with a tile roof, which would complement the existing structures in the gardens. The
proposed building materials would require very little maintenance and no painting of the exterior.
County Manager O’Neal pointed out that the building materials may be more expensive initially, but being
maintenance free will cost virtually nothing in the long term.
Mr. Hemingway went on to say that the renovated parking lot would include an entrance drive or drop-off point
at the building which will allow elderly people and handicapped individuals access to the Visitor’s Center, as well as
provide a formal entrance for night-time events.
In discussion of the Garden Services Center, Mr. Hemingway explained that the structure would be more
utilitarian and it would include an educational classroom, offices for the garden and education curators, storage areas
for tools and equipment, and a staff break room which would serve as a staff meeting room. An educational and trial
garden will be located off to one side of the building and a recharging station for battery-powered vehicles on the other
side. Covered porches on the side and front will give visitors and staff workers shelter from rain and provide shade.
Classroom groups will enter first through the Visitor’s Center and continue to the Services Center by a garden path.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 29
WORK SESSION, SEPTEMBER 11, 2003PAGE 753
Mr. Hemingway presented the following cost information:
Construction Cost Estimates
7500 sq. ft. Visitor's Center at $200 a square foot $1,500,000
4300 sq. ft. Garden Services Center 350,000
Landscape Improvements 100,000
Contingencies 195,000
Professional Fees 240,000
Estimated Total Building Costs$2,400,000
In discussion of the funding source for the capital projects, Director Herrera-Mishler explained that $200,000
has been allocated in the capital budget for building construction. The Foundation’s finance committee did not want
to use the principle of the endowment for building projects, but agreed that some money could be used for one of the
buildings. They all agreed that the Visitor’s Center was essential to the economic growth of the gardens.
Chairman Davis explained that the Foundation felt that the Visitor’s Center will be vital in making Airlie
Gardens self sufficient by getting more people into the gardens. He also reported that the County is paying $3500 per
month for rental of portable toilets. By providing bathroom facilities in the Visitor’s Center, the public will be more
pleased and it will be a better way to spend tax dollars. The Foundation agreed to postpone building the maintenance
facility in order to build the Visitor’s Center first. He felt that having a nice facility will significantly increase income
from weddings held at Airlie.
In discussion of the total costs of the Visitor’s Center, Mr. Hemingway estimated the construction cost,
professional fees, and landscaping to be between $1.8 and $1.9 million.
Director Herrera-Mishler said that the Cape Fear Garden Club has committed $100,000 toward the project in
return for using the facility for its monthly meetings. After applying the $100,000 plus the $200,000 in the County
Budget for capital projects, $1.6 million will need to be raised by a fund raising campaign.
Commissioner Caster commented that he was confident the Airlie Foundation would be able to raise funds based
on the public’s participation in raising over a $1 million for the Northeast Branch Library. He felt that Airlie Gardens
would draw more potential donors than a library.
Chairman Davis reminded the Commissioners that the Foundation board membership recently was revamped
to focus on people who are energetic and passionate about Airlie Gardens and who will raise money for projects. He
recommended that emphasis should be placed on building the Visitor’s Center first instead of the maintenance building
in order to move forward in making Airlie Gardens self-sufficient.
Although the on-site maintenance building may not adequately address their needs, County Manager O’Neal
agreed that the current facility could be used a while longer.
Commissioner Caster suggested that the multi-purpose room may need to be enlarged in order to compete with
the Hilton Hotel and Sunspree Resort in accommodating large crowds.
Chairman Davis responded that a tent could be used to extend an area as tents have been used successfully in
the past for the Swan Ball events.
County Manager O’Neal agreed saying that the terraced area could have a custom-built tent that could be moved
from one area to another.
In further discussion of raising funds for the Visitor’s Center, Chairman Davis said that the Foundation
members have backgrounds in fund raising, and they have made a strong commitment to raising funds for Airlie. The
Foundation will be able to raise more money because of having a definite plan for the Visitor’s Center, and a Visitor’s
Center with nice restrooms will generate additional income for Airlie Gardens. Although some members wanted the
County to match dollar for dollar or make a contribution, he told the Foundation that they should raise the money based
on the Commissioners’ past direction.
Commissioner Caster agreed that the Foundation should raise the money saying it will take some pressure off
the Commissioners for buying Airlie in the first place.
Director Herrera-Mishler asked if the County would build the Services Center if the Foundation raised the
money for the Visitor’s Center.
Chairman Davis responded that the focus needs to be on the Visitor’s Center for now, but the Foundation and
the County will need to determine if revenues generated from the Visitor’s Center should stay at Airlie or go back to the
County. He has told the Foundation that the Commissioners want Airlie Gardens to be self-sufficient.
After hearing no further comments, Chairman Davis expressed appreciation for the presentation and he
adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa P. Elmore
Deputy Clerk to the Board