GREENSBORO, N.C. — Guilford County Schools is trying to get a new district headquarters. At a meeting last night, the board authorized staff to try and purchase the old ITG Brands building on Green Valley Road. The goal is to bring administrative workers in different buildings under one roof to increase collaboration.
GCS says buying the building is cheaper than building a new one.
“The cost of the Green Valley Road property is far more cost-effective than purchasing land and constructing a comparable new facility or purchasing a similar commercial office building,” a spokesperson wrote in a news release. “For example, the City of Wilmington paid approximately $183 per square foot for its new $68 million municipal building compared to an estimated $66 per square foot GCS will pay to purchase the ITG property. Similarly, the U.S. General Services Administration spent $1,066 per square foot to renovate the Charlotte U.S. Courthouse Annex and Charles R. Jonas Federal Building Renovation for $129 million.”
To afford this change, the District is exploring the option of selling off five office buildings across Greensboro including the locations on Eugene Street, Washington Street, Market Street, Prescott Street, and one in Summerfield.
"With the real estate market booming, now is an excellent time to consolidate space and sell our downtown properties," said board member Crissy Pratt. "It makes sense economically and from a logistical standpoint for our district to have fewer buildings and more staff under one roof."
All district-owned property must be offered first to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners before being authorized for sale at market value. The five GCS buildings were built in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, predating the merger between Greensboro City Schools, High Point City Schools and Guilford County Schools in 1993.
If the sales go through more than 400 people could work in the new building. And staff could move in as soon as this fall.
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