The Iredell County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 21 to proceed with a full buildout of the Iredell County Fairgrounds Regional Farmers Market and an expanded parking area, approving the enclosed-market design with a roof “pop-up,” air conditioning and the full parking scope as the base project while asking staff to bid exterior power outlets and to develop options for additional restrooms as alternates.

The project team presented schematic designs and cost estimates during the board’s pre‑agenda meeting. David Salibi, presenting for county administration, told the board the designers from CPL and Benish Engineering worked with staff and a construction manager‑at‑risk to develop the plans and preliminary pricing. “Nothing’s in concrete till bid day,” Salibi said, describing the figures as market estimates the county will refine through design and into a guaranteed maximum price (GMP).

The nut graf: the board approved proceeding with the higher-cost enclosed option and full parking buildout after hearing that the enclosed market would increase year‑round usability — including early‑voting and rentals — and that grant funds plus county reserves are available to cover most of the cost. Commissioners asked that alternates be prepared for bid to limit later disruptions and to show exact costs for optional items.

Design and cost details
Chelsea Hansen, designer with CPL, said the building program includes roughly 30 market stalls, restrooms serving the building and nearby areas, a conference room and two offices, and a single concessions area intended to replace the existing on‑site concession stand. The site plan places the market between existing fairground buildings and the midway to minimize disruption to existing operations and to keep pathways accessible for maintenance and attendees.

The schematic also calls for an expanded entrance drive and an on‑site retention pond. The parking concept maximizes available land and is presented in three phases (areas A, B and C) with a full‑build estimate of about 775 spaces. The base schematic estimates and allowances shown to the board were: an open market with the roof pop‑up about $4.35 million (roughly $4.29 million without the pop‑up); a closed (enclosed) market about $5.23 million (about $5.14 million without the pop‑up). The full buildout that includes the closed market plus all parking and alternates was presented in estimates near $11.89 million.

Financing and grant context
Caroline Taylor, the county finance director, told the board the county currently has approximately $10.17 million in grant funding for the fairgrounds project and is accruing interest on that money; the county also has about $6.0 million set aside in the fairgrounds capital project fund. Taylor said those sums, plus continued interest earnings, mean the county can pursue a larger build if the board chooses, but contingencies will still be required when staff returns with a GMP.

Board direction and alternates
Commissioners asked for practical alternates and site features to be priced so the county can decide what to include without multiple future disruptions. Specific directions the board approved: proceed with the enclosed (closed) market option with the roof pop‑up and include air conditioning as part of the base design; include exterior electrical outlets and power options around the building and parking area as formal bid alternates; develop separate designs and cost options for upgraded or replacement restroom facilities (to be returned to the board for separate consideration).

Timeline and use
Designers and staff said the county will move from schematic design to construction documents and then to bidding. Staff aims to put the project out for bid in March–April 2026, begin parking site work soon after, have gravel parking usable for the 2026 fair, and complete market construction with a goal of a mid‑2027 grand opening. Team members said they will try to minimize disruption to scheduled events (including horse sales and the fair) but that some displacement for construction seasons is likely and should be managed in the project schedule.

Formal action
Commissioner Brown moved to proceed with the full buildout — enclosed market with pop‑up and air conditioning — and to return alternates and restroom options to the board; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Next steps
Staff and the design team will return with design drawings, refined cost estimates through the GMP process, and separate bid alternates that show the cost to add exterior power outlets and new or upgraded restroom facilities.