It’s been nearly a decade since county officials received cost estimates to renovate the current Crown Theatre and Arena, the chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners said April 14.
Chairman Kirk deViere's comments came after commissioners met during a three-hour closed session to discuss the project under attorney-client privilege, with no action taken.
The board had lifted a suspension of the project April 8 after pausing it in March to review the budget and scope of the project.
Following the special-called meeting, deViere said officials are asking the project team to provide a gross maximum price for the “last construction package.”
The board approved designs in May 2024, approved site work in September 2024 and broke ground in October for a new facility in Gillespie Street in downtown Fayetteville.
A previous estimate showed a $145 million cost with a spring 2027 opening date.
Commissioners have not voted on the construction package and next steps for the Crown Event Center downtown, deViere said.
“The bid has not been awarded, which is why we have to take it back out, ensure the costing is accurate and updated,” he said after the meeting. “As you can imagine, with a contractor, there’s a lot of (subcontractors), so we want to confirm that cost of the construction package and then get any updates on any timelines.”
Once officials review those costs, deViere said, they will have a better idea of the project timeline and whether there will be any delays.
He said it should take about 30 to 60 days to complete the review.
Separately, deViere said officials have asked county staff to engage with Davis Kane Architect to provide updated estimates on what it would cost to renovate and modernize the existing Crown Theatre and Arena, both of which opened in the late 1960s and were set to close in November because they are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
DeViere didn't say if getting costs for renovating the existing building would stop work on the new construction
“Whether that’s used now or in the future, it’s a datapoint and a question that, quite frankly, we’ve heard in the community … as well as others, and we feel that it’s a responsible action by the board to have that number,” he said.
DeViere said the last time the county received an estimate on the cost to renovate the two aging buildings was in 2015.
A Modernization Study completed in March 2015 found that extensive renovations to the theater were comparable to the cost of a new facility.
Upgrades were estimated at $35.35 million, according to the study. A new 1,500 seat facility would cost an estimated $37.7 million, while a theater with 2,500 seats was estimated to cost $80.2 million, it said.
DeViere said officials need updated costs to determine the next course of action.
“We directed a couple of things to happen,” deViere said. “Once we have that information, I think … what you’re seeing (is) a board take deliberate responsive action.”
He said he does not think prior boards took action on what would happen to the existing facilities.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at [email protected] or 910-486-3528.