Southern Pines' old town hall and police station on Broad Street could be demolished as early as next week to prepare for replacement.

But the new facilities won't be built right away. The Town Council hasn't yet approved an architectural exterior design from HSMM Architects of Charlotte for the new site. The council sent the architects back to do more work. A new sketch could come in this week, officials said.

A capital reserve fund containing between $2 and $3 million likely needs more funding if the entire municipal complex is to be rebuilt as the council intends, said Town Manager Reagan Parsons.

The 1950s era police building and town council meeting chambers, as well as a magistrate's office in the existing complex, could be removed as early as Monday.

A contract was signed to begin Oct. 15 and allow a 30-day window to allow the low bidder, Mid East Railroad Services Inc. of Carthage, to demolish the walls, cart the rubble away and dispose of it. Mid East will also prepare the site until the town is ready to begin construction on the new facilities.

The new facility will include relocated administrative offices for the town manager and several clerks, along with all the other existing functions of the present structure.

The new complex will be in a bigger, more modern, practical design by adding a story on top of the first (ground) floor, where the police station will be located.

The police have been relocated temporarily into the former Access Printing Building behind the town public works department between Memorial Drive off Morganton Road and U.S. 1 North.

"We wanted to go ahead and remove the buildings, smooth the site and plant grass now because we wanted to prevent vandalism on the empty buildings that tends to happen after awhile," said Assistant Town Manager Ricky Baker.

Check Friday's Pilot and ThePilot.com for the full story.