County to Consider Buying Property for Courthouse Parking Expansion

Alamance County commissioners opened the week with an agenda item proposing the purchase of a .36 acre lot at 301 West Pine Street, adjacent to the Judge J.B. Allen, Jr. Courthouse. The acquisition is intended to offset parking that will be taken by a three story addition to the courthouse approved in 2024, an expansion that will add four new courtrooms and office space.

County staff cited the parcel's current tax value as the basis for the proposed purchase price in materials distributed on December 11. The board will consider the purchase and associated budget implications at its December 15 meeting. The agenda describes most other items as routine appointments or noncontroversial matters, though it also includes a separate item to negotiate a contract for renovation of an Emergency Medical Services base.

If commissioners approve the purchase, the county would secure immediate adjacent parking to serve judges, staff, jurors, and members of the public who visit the downtown courthouse. That practical outcome connects to broader concerns about access to the courts, downtown traffic flow, and how construction will disrupt nearby businesses during the project timeline. The parcel is small, but its adjacency to the courthouse means it could be deployed quickly to reduce the immediate loss of spaces when construction begins.

The inclusion of an EMS base renovation negotiation on the same agenda signals parallel attention to public safety infrastructure and operations, which community members rely on daily. Funding commitments for property acquisition or renovations can affect county budget priorities, and the board will weigh those tradeoffs in public session.

Residents who have an interest in downtown parking, courthouse operations, or emergency services may attend the December 15 board meeting to observe the discussion and any vote. If approved, the purchase would be an early step toward implementing the courthouse expansion while maintaining access and functionality for the public.