Woodfin town staff reviewed a 2023 feasibility study Wednesday recommending a roughly 16,500‑square‑foot civic hub on the current town hall site and outlined next steps for community engagement, financing and a potential timeline.

Adrian, a town staff member, told the council the consultant recommended locating the new facility on Elk Mountain Road to improve visibility and pedestrian connections and to integrate outdoor space and solar-ready design. The study divides the building program roughly into police (about half the space), administration (about 25%) and community/assembly space (about 25%).

The study’s space figure and staff interviews led to an estimated size of 16,500 square feet, and staff said commercial construction costs used in the study were about $500 per square foot; that implies a preliminary construction cost on the order of $8.25 million (approximate, based on the square‑foot and per‑square‑foot figures presented). Adrian said the town could finance a project but that doing so would limit funds for other priorities and would likely require partnerships, grants or alternate approaches.

Council members and staff discussed options including a full new build, renovation of existing facilities, modular construction or holding a placeholder for a future community building on the site. Adrian said the town is initiating additional information gathering over the coming months, with the goal of having a clearer plan by July 2027; actual construction, if pursued, would follow design and financing steps and likely take several additional years.

Council members asked about program specifics, community engagement methods and the future of the existing community center. Adrian said Friends Montessori School currently rents the community center and will remain there for the current academic year and next year at minimum, so any move-in would not be immediate. Staff also noted that retrofitting the existing police facility to meet state accreditation standards would be a significant investment and that the present building is not sized to meet current staffing and equipment needs.

Adrian and other staff emphasized that the feasibility study is a starting point and that community input will be gathered through multiple tools (in-person events, online surveys and social media). Officials noted competing needs — road paving, sidewalks, parks maintenance and debt obligations, including long-term debt tied to a tax‑increment financing project — and said those considerations will shape whether and how the town proceeds.

The council did not take formal action on the study at the meeting; staff said they will return with more information and public‑engagement plans for further council discussion.