County plans to renovate library courtyard

Published: Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 5:57 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 5:57 p.m.

New Hanover County is taking steps to transform Carolina Courtyard, located outside the main library downtown, from a degraded lot frequented by loiterers into a space that serves library patrons looking for reading or socializing spaces and children's activities.

The county put out a request for qualifications for the renovation and received three applications by the deadline earlier this month.

Paige Owens, assistant director of New Hanover County Public Library, said a committee of county and library officials is planning to review the materials soon and meet with potential firms in late October.

"We're looking for a company that shares our vision (and) understands the importance of the library as a place in the community and is excited about creative ways of extending that space," Owens said.

The plan is divided into three phases, the first being the most expensive. It involves creating an opening in the east side of the library on both the first and second floors. The first floor expansion will feature an enclosed children's story park accessible only from the inside of the library, topped by a second-floor outdoor deck for reading and studying, from which a stairway will lead down to the courtyard.

The second phase will add landscaping, seating for reading, and outdoor meeting space. The plan for the third phase is to open up the perimeter of the space for what Owens calls "parklets," small adoptable spaces that organizations can use to feature a design concept.

The courtyard is located at an advantageous spot to bring people downtown and provide a place for people to eat lunch, gather and meet and for children to have space for activities, Owens said.

That, she said, would be healthier than its current lack of purpose with people sitting there with nothing to do.

"When you have a lot downtown that's not built, it tends to have people just loitering," Owens said.

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County plans to renovate library courtyard