The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has approved an agreement between the county and the City of Winston-Salem for the city to participate in the financing, ownership and operation of a parking deck for the new courthouse.
The $13 million parking deck with about 660 spaces will be built at Chestnut and First streets in downtown Winston-Salem before the courthouse is constructed, The Winston-Salem Journal reports.
.The city’s share of the costs for construction and operating the deck would be about 35.4 percent, or nearly $5 million. The county will pay the remaining costs.
In September, county commissioners selected Samet Corp. and Balfour Beatty to build the $120 million courthouse, after some controversy.
Samet won out over company teams Frank L. Blum Construction Co. and Barnhill Contracting Co., and Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. and Holt Brothers Construction.
A board-created committee had recommended Whiting-Turner/Holt Brorthers, but commissioners ultimately decided on Samet, in part because of the company’s excellent reputation in reliably paying subtrades and suppliers.
The board also approved on Jan. 24 the rezoning of 92.7 acres in southeastern Forsyth County where Chicago-based Medline Industries, a manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, wants to open a 660,000-sq. ft. warehouse distribution center.
In addition, the board held a public hearing and authorized $23.3 million in two-thirds bonds for the county’s capital maintenance program — school, community college, parks and recreation, public facilities — as well as court facilities parking.