Forsyth County delays vote on Ashley Elementary site purchase and $505,000 transfer amid price, design questions

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 23 voted to postpone until Nov. 6 a decision on approving Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools spending to acquire a 0.13‑acre parcel needed for the planned new Ashley Elementary School and on a related transfer of $505,000 from county budget reserves.

The motion to postpone passed 6–1. Commissioner James McDaniel moved to postpone; the motion carried with six in favor and one opposed, after several commissioners said they needed more time to review updated price and design details.

The item on the agenda combined two related actions: approval of the amount to be spent by the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education to buy the site and an amendment to the Education Capital Projects Ordinance to transfer $505,000 from budget reserve to the Ashley Elementary project. Daryl Walker, a representative for Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools, told commissioners the seller reduced his asking price by 10% during recent conversations, “which brings the cost of the property to $45,000.” Walker said that the district did not originally include that small parcel in earlier public discussions and that the purchase became important after the project’s grading plan showed a topographic difference that could otherwise require building a retaining wall with a roughly $500,000 cost impact.

Why it matters: Commissioners emphasized fiscal responsibility and public transparency as they weighed the county’s commitment to the school project. One commissioner described the school as a long‑advocated community priority but said the board needed clarity on the site price, the design changes (including a roughly 30,000‑square‑foot reduction in building area), and the timeline for a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) from the contractor. Daryl Walker told the board that the GMP and more detailed cost estimates should be available “early on in 2026.”

Discussion highlights and unanswered questions

- Price and valuation: Public commenter Alan Daniel raised concerns about nearby property purchases and appraisal differences, calling several transactions “stinky.” Commissioners cited the seller’s prior purchase price and current asking price in debating whether the $45,000 offer was reasonable. One commissioner calculated that the seller’s 2020 purchase price compared with the current asking price represented a substantial markup; another observed that $45,000 for 0.13 acres translates roughly to $346,153 per acre in that location.

- Project costs and schedule: Staff said the district reduced building square footage and is asking the contractor to prepare a GMP; Walker said the district expects a schedule that runs through spring 2026 and a cost estimate “early on in 2026.” Commissioners requested the district provide its design documents and a clearer cost schedule before the county approves additional funding.

- Alternatives and process: Commissioners discussed condemnation (eminent domain) as an option the Board of Education could pursue if negotiations fail, but the county attorney and staff noted the school board would be the entity to pursue condemnation and that legal and appraisal costs could be substantial. Staff also said many of the neighboring property purchases at issue were made during a multi‑parcel condemnation process years earlier (some parcels had been acquired because of back taxes) and that a number of properties were handled through attorney‑led packages.

Board action and next steps

- The board voted to postpone consideration of the purchase and the $505,000 transfer to the next regular meeting on Nov. 6 so staff and the school district could supply clearer documentation (revised purchase paperwork, updated design plans, and a project schedule). Commissioners asked the school district to provide: (1) the finalized purchase price and closing cost breakdown reflecting the seller’s 10% reduction; (2) the contractor schedule and estimated GMP timeline; and (3) the design package showing the grading and retaining‑wall tradeoffs that prompted the purchase request.

- Commissioners also asked county staff to compile the district’s prior Ashley‑area property purchase history that the board had requested but not yet received.

Ending: County and school staff said they would provide the requested materials before Nov. 6. The board did not approve the site purchase or the budget transfer at the Oct. 23 meeting; debate centered on price justification and project‑cost certainty rather than opposition to building a replacement Ashley Elementary School.