City of Fayetteville leaders have voted to move forward with an incoming Makerspace, hoping to establish a defined arts district for the City. 

The City Council received an update on the project at their most recent Work Session which took place on Monday, Jan. 6. Fayetteville Cumberland County Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Director Michael Gibson gave an updated presentation providing renderings, plans and laying out what can be achieved with remaining funds budgeted for the project. 

The project is focused on renovating a city owned warehouse building located on the corner of Murchison Road, Rowan Street and Bragg Boulevard into a “Makerspace” defined by the city as communal public workshops in which individuals gather to share resources and knowledge, work on projects, network and build.

“It's something that we believe would add value to that corner,” said Gibson. “It's an art environment. So you would find people who are groups that deal with people who make things, who design things, and then they would have an opportunity to sell those things. And normally these are groups who, to participate, have to be in sort of like a club. You have to pay to get in, you have to pay to use the facility, so there is some revenue generated. And if the taxpayers dollars [go to] it, then there's a percentage that has to come back to the taxpayers.”

According to city records, funding in the amount of $800,000 was appropriated by City Council on Nov. 8, 2021, for the initial phase of the project. Work began on the removal of underground storage tanks, roof replacement, interior demolition and replacement of security fence which have been completed to prepare and secure the property.

Now, the council has been briefed on the status of the building, and intention for the remaining $450,770.73 that remains in the budget to renovate the inside of the building. 

Included in the recommended internal renovations are: 

• Makerspace workshop and gallery 
• Shaded makerspace terrace 
• Parking, curb & gutter landscape islands, etc. 
• Landscape berm screen feature 

SFLA Architects were contracted to develop a master plan concept for the Makerspace which was approved by the City Council more than a year ago. The concept master plan continues the development of a major gateway (Murchison Road) in the downtown corridor.

According to Gibson, it would take about 90 days of continued work on the interior of the building before the Council would be briefed again. He also shared that the next step would be to find a non profit organization that the City could partner with who would then run the space. 

The council voted unanimously to accept the report and move forward with the project.