Cumberland County officials plan to turn a former county parking lot, intended to be the site of the Crown Events Center, into a temporary green space until they decide on long-term plans for the location.
The county acquired the land for the Crown Events Center downtown in front of the Cumberland County Courthouse, at Gillespie Street and Ottis F. Jones Parkway, in October 2024, after removing the parking lot.
The new Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 on June 4 to halt construction at the site and instead renovate the existing Crown Arena and Crown Theater on US 301.
During a Dec. 11 agenda meeting, County Manager Clarence Grier told commissioners that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s permit for the Gillespie Street site is about to expire.
“I don’t want us to have to pay a penalty because of this,” said Grier.
He recommended that, until officials find a permanent solution for the site, it would become a temporary green space and said he would provide commissioners with the cost at their Dec. 15 meeting.
The cleared site at Gillespie Street and Otis Jones Parkway is shown on November 7, 2025. Construction of the Crown Events Center was halted in June after the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners halted the project, eight months after it began in October 2024.
Other options under consideration
County staff created a community survey in September to learn what residents would like to see in the former Gillespie Street parking area.
Grier told commissioners in October that more than 1,400 responses were received, with most saying parking is a priority and most residents saying they continue to support an entertainment or performing arts venue.
He said the suggestions for the space prioritized community-focused uses and mixed uses, such as green spaces, youth programs, an aquatic center or a farmers market.
About 44% of respondents said the space should be used for economic development or entertainment-related businesses, with restaurants.
Commissioners have not decided what to do with the site, as they also in September directed staff to work with economic development partners to identify any economic development opportunities for the site along with community surveys.
During the December 11 meeting, Commissioner Marshall Faircloth said the county lost 200 parking spaces when the Gillespie Street parking lot was demolished.
“I want to emphasize again the need to replace those parking spots regardless of what we do with this green space or whatever, because we need parking,” Faircloth said.
The cleared site at Gillespie Street and Otis Jones Parkway is shown on November 7, 2025. Construction of the Crown Events Center was halted in June after the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners halted the project, eight months after it began in October 2024.
Crown master plan
In other matters at the December 11 meeting, Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere asked fellow commissioners to consider starting the process for the county to have a master plan for the Crown Complex area of the city near Business 301.
He said the plan could be coupled with a master plan for the nearby Fayetteville Regional Airport area.
His December 11 request was for fellow commissioners to direct staff to seek a professional services contract for “Crown District” master planning concepts.
“This not only incorporates the footprint on the plant, but also in and around it so we can start looking at usable land,” deViere said. “The county has a lot of parcels out there.”
He said that the master plan would be a strategic framework to guide future decisions and should include a vision framework and analysis of the site.
DeViere said the area looks viable, with plans to modernize the Crown Complex, growth along Interstate 295, discussions about economic development opportunities and considerations for an aquatic center, and that commissioners need a “strategic roadmap.”
He asked that Grier bring back a recommendation for a consultant, timeline and cost during the commissioners’ Jan. 20 agenda session meeting.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County proposes temporary green space at Gillespie Street lot