---

 As you drive around the Courtsquare in downtown Lincolnton, you'll see evidence of work underway on the old Lincoln County Courthouse.  It does not mean that the repurposing of the courthouse has been decided.  What is going to be happening is mostly a repair project.  

Construction fencing will be installed while crews continue their renovation work approved by both City Council and County Commissioners. How quickly the work will progress depends on permits, weather, etc. The fencing will be placed 10 feet from the edge of the curb and circle the entire building.

The construction team is J.M. Cope Construction; the architect is Maurer Architecture. On the County side, Josh Grant with Planning and Development is over the project along with John Henry, Purchasing Director.

The fencing will be installed in mid-April or the beginning of May.

Part of the work will include waterproofing the interior and exterior of the building, replacing the doors and windows to the building’s original style, updating utilities infrastructure--water and sewer, mechanical, plumbing and electrical work..

County officials issued a news release explaining that while the historic courthouse is the heart of our downtown and community and having a temporary construction fence placed around it isn’t ideal, it is required by code as a matter of public safety. 

The release adds that Lincoln County and the City of Lincolnton will continue to update the public on the progress of the renovations. 

Surely most have heard by now that ownership of the old courthouse will be transferred, when the repairs are completed, from the County to the City.  The reason the County website information on the project has not been updated much recently is that the ultimate decision on the reuse of the building will be up to the City Council.

The planning for the repurposing of the building has been a lengthy process already, with surveys and meetings to gather input from the public.  The effort has been a combined undertaking of a Steering Committee, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, Lincolnton City Council, representatives of the Lincoln Economic Development Association, Lincoln County-Lincolnton Historic Preservation Commission, Downtown Development Association, Tourism Authority, Chamber of Commerce; Rep. Jason Saine, the UNC School of Government, North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, Lincoln County Historical Association, Preservation North Carolina, NC Small Business Technical Development Center, North Carolina Department of Transportation, City & County Planning and Inspections, and others.

---

---