Henderson County commissioners approve $84.2 million GMP for new courthouse in 3-2 vote

Hendersonville, N.C. — The Henderson County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on March 16 to approve a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $84,214,579.92 for construction of a new Henderson County Courthouse and directed staff to contract with Haskell-Cooper and release the site work package to allow contractor mobilization.

The vote followed a presentation from John Albro of Haskell-Cooper outlining the courthouse scope: a five-floor building (basement parking plus four floors) totaling approximately 90,509 gross square feet with a single court set (two courtrooms) per floor. The proposal places direct building costs at about $759 per square foot and direct sitework costs near $63 per square foot. The proposal documents list a GMP of $84,214,579 and estimate total project costs — including soft costs — at about $99.8 million.

Why it matters: County officials said this is the largest capital construction project in Henderson County history and is intended to address long-standing space needs identified in a 2021 assessment. Commissioners and staff noted schedule milestones that include construction mobilization planned for May 29, 2026, substantial completion around Sept. 29, 2028, and final completion in November 2028, per the Haskell-Cooper submission.

What was presented: Haskell-Cooper’s GMP package included a detailed cost breakdown, a list of project alternates (with staff recommendations on which alternates to accept or decline), and numerous allowances incorporated into the base price for items such as temporary utilities, demolition bracing, elevator and security mock-ups, rigid inclusions, and temporary laydown areas. The presentation explicitly excluded a new County Detention Center from the GMP.

Board debate: Commissioners split on the decision. Vice-Chair J. Michael Edney moved approval and framed the motion around financing confidence and readiness to proceed; Chairman William Lapsley and Commissioner Rebecca McCall voted with him. Commissioner Jay Egolf and Commissioner Sheila Franklin opposed the motion, citing concerns about overall project cost, the potential effect on other planned projects, and opposition to raising taxes to cover shortfalls. The motion language recorded in the minutes states: "Vice-Chair J. Michael Edney made the motion that the Henderson County Board of Commissioners approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price of $84,214,579.92 for the JCAR: Courthouse Project, and direct Henderson County Staff to contract with Haskell-Cooper on this project. And additionally, authorize staff to direct Haskell-Cooper to release the site work package, allowing the site work contractor to mobilize on the courthouse project." The roll-call vote recorded Lapsley, McCall and Edney in favor; Egolf and Franklin opposed.

Next steps: With the board’s direction, county staff are authorized to finalize contracting with Haskell-Cooper and proceed with the site-work package mobilization. The project schedule in the GMP documents anticipates substantial construction activity through 2026–2028, with key milestones noted in the Haskell-Cooper schedule.

The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m. and was attested by Denisa A. Lauffer, Clerk to the Board.