Garden Views, Public Spaces. Heres A First Look At Hillsboroughs Amtrak Station.

A railway station to be built in Hillsborough could be transformed into a modern suburban center and community center in a natural setting, with a bus stop and public spaces within walking distance of the centre, the project reported Monday night.

The site, located at Cherton and Orange Grove streets in the Collins Ridge area, represents the first phase of the city's 20-acre planned development. With the exception of the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association baseball fields, the site is currently largely undeveloped.

While details are being worked out, the first phase of the project will include an 8,000-square-foot, one-story building, delivery area and parking lot. On one side there will be a station with a waiting area, a covered porch and a boarding platform.

On the opposite side, the municipal offices and the size of the hall can be used for public meetings and events. Local art can be hung on lobby walls, according to Stephanie Trueblood, the city's manager of public space and sustainability.

An elevated greenway south of the railroad tracks and Collins Ridge creates a walkway from downtown to Cates Creek Park near Waterstone.

"I hope the site becomes a destination for more than just the people who come to visit the building or the site," Trueblood said. “Here, people can walk off the greenway and go to the bathroom. This is a place where people meet their knitting club and hang out.

According to the project, sustainability is an integral part of the concept, from daylighting and renewable energy to green roofs, stormwater ponds, reservoirs and wetlands.

Eric Davis, surface architect and vice president of Surface 678, said the site's 40-foot elevation change makes the landscape "challenging" but "very beautiful." The company is working with Clearscapes Architects to design the site.

"We want everyone to have access to the site," Davis said. "But the great thing about it is that it allows us to incorporate stormwater features and highlight the site in terms of major views and sightlines."

Returning to the project, the price increase

The city's Board of Commissioners on Monday approved the first architectural and landscape design project for the 6.4-acre Amtrak station, which is a key part of Orange County's regional and local transportation plan.

"I'm horrified," said Commissioner Kathleen Ferguson. His comments were echoed by others, including Commissioner Rob English.

"It's very exciting," said Mayor Jennifer Weaver. "I know that's not an accurate description, but the elements you bring and the spirit of this modern, sustainable building is truly amazing."

The cost to build the site is estimated at $8.1 million, but that could increase as the plan is finalized, City Manager Eric Peterson said.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has agreed to pay about $6.3 million to build the station by 2020, and GoTriangle will pay $686,000 in Orange County transit revenue. The city agreed to pay the rest of the money and complete the project by 2027, which prevented the state from renovating.

Agreement with NC Railroad, additional plan

One of the biggest obstacles to Trueblood moving forward is an agreement with the North Carolina Railroad, which owns the tracks and land on both sides of the corridor. This allows you to conduct surveys, place platforms where you need them and complete the layout of the site.

He pointed out that the work envisages increasing the number of rails on the corridor to accommodate the additional trains and facilities needed to serve the railway station and future development plans of the city.

Trueblood said planning for the remaining 14 acres will begin next year. Previous discussions were about affordable housing and commercial space in the concert center.

Trueblood said the city should conduct a market analysis and consider other options, including seeking a public-private partnership or selling a portion of the land to a developer.

Orange report

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