New art pieces to go on display
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on September 13, 2016 9:57 AM
Downtown Goldsboro will have several new public art pieces on display in the fall with the addition of a locally crafted piece by a Pikeville steel fabrication company.
Julie Metz, the city's downtown development director, recently told the Goldsboro City Council that Benton and Sons Fabrication is interested in creating a large-scale structure that could be placed in one of downtown's roundabouts. Benton and Sons has three large-sized, steel-crafted dinosaurs on its property along N.C. 581. Metz confirmed Friday that the company will built a 12- to 14-feet high dilophosaurus dinosaur that will be added to the Center Street roundabout at Chestnut Street, Metz said.
"If you've ever been by there, you'll see a great steel dinosaur," Metz told council. "We've talked with them, and they have an interest in creating a piece for a roundabout."
The local interest adds to efforts already underway to add three public art pieces to downtown. The art replaces existing pieces that have been leased by the city during the past year, at a total cost of $6,000. The new selections will be leased for a year for $5,000. The city has budgeted $5,500 for downtown artwork this year. The Benton and Sons dinosaur is being provided at no cost to the city, Metz said.
The public art will all be installed on Oct. 14, prior to a 1 p.m. installation ceremony in front of City Hall, Metz said.
The process of selecting new art to replace existing pieces on display downtown included a review of 58 possibilities in July, a public feedback period in August and final picks prior to a presentation to the city council.
"It was a really diverse selection," Metz said. "There were positive responses to about every piece that we had offered."
A public art steering committee narrowed down the top three selections based on a variety of factors, including the size, mass and impact of each structure, Metz said.
Sounds of the Elements, a 14-foot-tall, stainless steel, bronze and aluminum sculpture will be added in the Center Street roundabout at Mulberry Street, Metz said.
"It has a sound element to it," Metz said. "You can actually hear it when the wind blows."
Sky Walker, an 18-foot-tall multi-colored steel piece, will be added to the John Street parking lot. Mates, a 7-foot-tall painted structure, will be added to the median along Center Street, Metz said.
CRAFT BEER, TATTOO PARLORS
During a recent council work session, two proposed tattoo parlors, the addition of a middle school at Wayne Preparatory Academy and a new craft beer restaurant, Brewmasters, on East Ash Street, were reviewed.
After listening to a city staff report on Brewmasters, Councilman David Ham questioned the site plan that described Brewmasters as a sandwich shop.
"They're not known for sandwiches," Ham said. "They're known for selling beer. It doesn't affect my opinion of them. Brewmasters operates a beer business in Wilson, and that's what they're planning on operating here.
"To say they're going to operate a sandwich shop is totally misleading."
The council didn't object to the site plan for the restaurant, which is planned to locate in a former McDonald's building, at 2402 E. Ash St. The business, expected to open by the end of the year, will offer a 65-set dining area, a bar and shelves that will be stocked with a variety of craft beer. The site plan was approved by the council.
Ham also said he couldn't vote in favor of a conditional-use permit for a tattoo parlor, requested to locate at 1923 N. William St., in the shopping center where The Playground Nightclub is located. Ham said he wanted more information before making a decision, and the council tabled the permit request.
Ham also said he has concerns about past problems stemming from the nightclub and wants to know whether the business could impact the N.C. Department of Transportation plan to widen North William Street into a four-lane, median-divided highway between U.S. 70 and the new U.S. 70 Bypass.
A second conditional-use permit for a tattoo parlor at 605 E. Ash St. was also tabled by council after Councilman Gene Aycock asked if the members of the nearby First Free Will Baptist Church were contacted about proposed hour restrictions on Sunday. The planning commission recommends Sunday hours to be limited to 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
"I just want to know where they stand on it," Aycock said.
The council directed staff to research if the business owner has had any problems at his tattoo parlor on U.S. 117 South.
Also during the Sept. 7 meeting, the council approved:
* Site plans for the addition of a middle school at Wayne Preparatory Academy near the corner of Patetown and Tommy's Road.
* The sale of 624 Slaughter St. for $1 to Eleva Moore.
* A $142,000 contract with A/K Grading and Demolition for the abatement and demolition of 26 condemned residential properties.
* A $98,191 purchase of playground equipment for Mina Weil Park from Playworld Preferred.