News

Contractor 'tops out' Fletcher's new Town Hall

The cupola sits atop the new Town Hall building in Fletcher.

By Miranda McFalls, Published: June 26, 2013

FLETCHER — The Fletcher Town Council and mayor and USDA and Cooper Construction officials celebrated the "topping out" of the new Town Hall today in Fletcher.

About 15 people watched as a crane raised the cupola atop the town hall, which will house administrative offices, meeting rooms and the Police Department.

The new town hall, which the town council has been planning for 10 years, is part of the Heart of Fletcher project.

"We had to show a commitment to the Heart of Fletcher," said Mayor Bill Moore. "I am extremely proud for our citizens of Fletcher because we worked hard on this and we're gonna make the Heart of Fletcher progress and grow, but this was our part of the puzzle that we had to put in."

The $7.1 million project includes the town hall building and restoration of Old Cane Creek Road, which runs in front of the new building. The building is set to be complete by early spring next year.

The town received a $6.5 million USDA Community Facilities loan for the project. Representatives from the USDA watched as the milestone was completed.

"This building will serve them well for many years," said Pam Hysong, USDA Rural Development area director. "I'm glad to see it well on its way to being completed."

The cupola was not only monumental to the town and USDA, but also to the construction crew and architects. The building was designed by Hendersonville architect Stuart Stepp, who passed away during the bidding stage of the project. Stuart's sister, Laura, was at the event and watched, with a smile on her face, as the cupola was attached to the roof of the building.

Growth was the key word of the event.

"If you look at the growth we've got on the (U.S.) 25 corridor, if you look at the new hospital coming in, the joint venture with Mission and Pardee and the new YMCA, we're anticipating a lot of growth on Highway 25," Moore said. "That's been our intent for years, is to develop that 25 corridor and attract the business people to our community."

The next milestone for the building will be to complete the dry-in, which involves putting doors and windows to keep water out of the building, according to construction manager Jes Stafford. Once that's done, the contractor will start on the interior of the building.

The next project for the Heart of Fletcher will be a new library, which will sit near the town hall, according to the mayor. Town officials hope that the Henderson County Board of Commissioners will fund a new library on the site. The Fletcher branch, he said, is the second-most visited public library in the county.

"This is very exciting and I'm extremely happy for the Town of Fletcher and the people who live here," Moore said. "It's gonna be a benefit."