Greenway project, eco-friendly buildings win council approval

A city greenway project and an initiative to build greener structures were given the go-ahead at Monday night's City Council meeting.

The council voted unanimously — excepting Councilman Larry Spell, who was absent — to award a Goldsboro company with the contract to begin construction on the first half-mile of the South Tar River Greenway. That initial portion of the greenway will run between the Town Common and Woodlawn Street, and then from Woodlawn to North Warren Street.

Hine Sitework will be paid $329,800 to install 10-foot wide asphalt greenways, narrow a current roadway and install a storm drainage pipe. The project will be paid for with federal funds earmarked in 2005 through the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

City Engineer David Brown said there were nine bids submitted in all, but Hine Sitework was the lowest qualified bidder.

The completed South Tar greenway will run three miles from the Town Common to the Green Springs Park on Fifth Street. A groundbreaking for the first phase is set for noon Friday on Warren Street near the off-leash dog park.

Earlier in the two-hour meeting, the council unanimously adopted a policy to use environmentally friendly designs when constructing or renovating city buildings.

Public Works Director Wes Anderson told the council that implementing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program would lead to increases in construction costs of between 0.66 and 6.8 percent. Anderson added that money is usually recouped in the next 3-10 years because the greener structures cost less to operate.

Councilman Max Ray Joyner Jr. asked why it is necessary to require those standards, rather than just making it voluntary goal first.

“These economic times,” Joyner commented. “It's a great idea on paper, but I'm thinking about the costs.”

He gave White's Theater as an example of a structure where increased costs aren't needed.

The city is in the process of purchasing the vacant building and later renovating into a working community theater.

Waivers from the regulations can be given in certain circumstances, Anderson explained, giving shelters and buildings that house equipment as examples, because they wouldn't return the investment in operating costs.

City Manager Wayne Bowers added that the theater itself is a good example of the need for waivers, as other historical renovations might be.

“We thought it was important to go on the record, that (to build LEED-certified structures), at least, was our goal,” Bowers continued, explaining why the council should adopt the policy.

The Greenville City Council meets again at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Contact Kathryn Kennedy at kkennedy@coxnc.com or (252) 329-9566.