On behalf of Pack Square Conservancy, I’d like to make a statement I hope will clarify our relationship with Beverly-Grant Inc., our partners in the Pack Square Park project.
Beverly-Grant has worked with the Conservancy for many months on developing a cost-effective contract for construction of a 4,200-square-foot pavilion in the new park. Their expertise and cooperation have been absolutely essential to this process, and we feel fortunate to be associated with them. During the development of the contract, Beverly-Grant has not asked for, nor have they been given, any payment whatsoever.
As noted on our Web site (www.packsquarepark.org) and in the local media, Pack Square Conservancy’s board of trustees has decided to carry out a cost-benefit analysis before continuing with the pavilion portion of the project. All other parts of the project continue to move forward, and we expect Pack Square to be complete in April and the remaining portions of the park to be finished by the end of 2009.
The board’s decision to evaluate the pavilion portion of the project is a matter of stewardship during a difficult economic period that is affecting all of us. We are responsible for the park project and for contributions of more than $16 million that have come from hundreds of donors. While we have pledges for sufficient funds to complete other portions of the park, we are now working with potential donors to acquire funding for the pavilion.
Over the next few weeks, we will carefully evaluate all our options in an effort to do what is best for the park. It is our hope to build the wonderful pavilion that was designed by Overland Partners and John Fisher of Fisher Architects, and to have Beverly-Grant carry out construction with the same skill and attention to detail they have brought to so many other projects.
— Carol L. King, chair
Pack Square Conservancy Board of Trustees
Asheville
BUILD IT ALREADY!