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Carrboro town manager highlights Drakeford Library Complex, outreach and equity in visitors bureau meeting
Summary
Carrboro Town Manager Patrice Toney described the Drakeford Library Complex and Carrboro’s community-first approach—emphasizing race equity, climate action and a Green Neighborhood Grant that allocated half of this year’s funding to low-income communities.
Carrboro Town Manager Patrice Toney told the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board on March 18 that Carrboro centers decisions on “race equity and climate action” and has taken steps to make municipal services and outreach more community-facing.
Laurie Paolicelli introduced Toney and noted Carrboro’s 2025 All‑American City award. Toney described the Drakeford Library Complex — which opened in February 2025 and houses an Orange County Library branch, performing-arts space, NC Works, WCLM community radio, Carrboro Parks and Rec, Durham Tech and a teen center — and said the building is LEED certified and includes rooftop solar.
Toney said Carrboro moves Town Hall “into communities” rather than expecting residents to come to central offices. She cited the town’s Green Neighborhood Grant as an example of coupling climate and equity priorities: “50% of the funding this year has gone to low-income communities,” she said. The board heard that the library is averaging about 10,000 visitors per month.
Board members asked questions about balancing preservation with growth in downtown planning. Toney said the town is soliciting community feedback as it implements a newly adopted Downtown Area Plan and considers changes to its unified development ordinance to encourage targeted economic development.
The board received the presentation as part of round-table introductions and moved on to routine business and the executive director’s report.
