Below is a Letter to the Editor from my long-time friend and resident of Fayetteville, a person who is undoubtedly one of the most dedicated advocates of the Fayetteville downtown community, a successful businessman, and the most loyal purveyor and custodian of Fayetteville’s rich history, Dr. Hank Parfitt.
His letter below asks some pointed questions about how and why the new board of Cumberland County Commissioners chose to reject the downtown location for a new Event Center and opt to renovate and revitalize the existing facilities at the Crown Complex out on Eastern Blvd. Hwy. 301.
We value our readers' opinions and concerns and encourage them to submit letters and share their thoughts with us and the community.
However, I want to address Dr. Parfitt's last and final “Why is it,” because it pertains to me personally and reflects on the nature and integrity of our community newspaper. Dr. Parfitt asks: Why is it: that Up & Coming Weekly Newspaper editor [publisher] /owner Bill Bowman (who says he wants his magazine [newspaper] to be a serious journalistic endeavor and a watchdog for the whole community), doesn’t ask these questions instead of blindly accepting Chairman DeViere’s meaningless “government speak” pronouncements?
My response is “YES”, I do want my newspaper’s journalistic endeavor to be a media watchdog of sorts for the entire Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. This is a mission and mandate that has served as my company's foundation for three decades.
And, “YES,” I certainly researched to find out information about these questions to include conversations with board chairman deViere and Commissioner Tyson, as has my respected colleague Troy Williams. And, “NO,” we do not blindly accept anyone’s “government speak.”
So, with all due respect, below are the questions that Dr. Hank Parfitt has posed, and the conclusions that have resulted from the information readily available from dozens of reports, documents, surveys, videos, and minutes of meetings about the Event Center PROJECT and the options being considered.
Any information contrary to what I have printed below needs to be brought to my attention immediately because that would be NEWS!. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

—Bill Bowman, Publisher, Up & Coming Weekly

Letter to the Editor by Dr. Hank Parfitt
Why is it…that the decision by the previous Cumberland County Board of Commissioners to put the new performing arts/event center Downtown – after many years of public input, studies by consultants, and thoughtful deliberation – was reversed by 4 commissioners (Marshall Faircloth, Pavan Patel, Henry Tyson, and Board Chair Kirk DeViere) without similar public discussion? Is it that they are that much smarter than everyone else?

Bowman: Actually the June 4th vote was a 5-2. Left out was long time board member Jeannette Council. This decision followed months of studies including detailed cost reviews and several financial and parking assessments, and a community survey analysis. A CSL (Convention, Sports & Leisure) study in 2021 reflected that when residents were made aware of all the factors involved, they preferred renovation of the existing facilities to the downtown options.

Why is it…that even though Chairman DeViere claims that “it (their decision) reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility,” they were in such a hurry to throw away $30 million already spent on design fees, property acquisition, demolition and site prep, and even on steel already purchased, cut, and shipped? And…

Bowman: Actually, that number is $36 million, and only $14 million has been spent. The remaining $22-million remains. Without a doubt, the site prep work will benefit what goes there next. What is puzzling is why the previous board made $26 million of commitments within days of the new board taking office.

Why is it:…that they ignored Commissioner Adams’ warning that these expenditures would have to come out of the General Fund instead of funds from the Hotel Occupancy Tax if they abandoned the project? And…

Bowman: Not sure how valid Adams’ warning is since the use of those funds need to be determined by the Local Government Commission.

Why is it…they ignored the loss of revenue from upcoming shows already booked at the old Crown event center, which will have to be cancelled if the new event center has not been started by November, according to the Consent Agreement from the lawsuit over inadequate disability access at the old Crown theater?

Bowman: According to Rick Moorefield, Cumberland County’s Attorney, the consent order does not state that the shows must stop. Planning for renovations will provide minimal disruption to existing bookings. And, based on Crown Complex General Manager, Seth Benalt’s enthusiasm for upcoming events, he didn’t show any concern about cancellations or loss of revenue.

Why is it…that the one public meeting (June 4), announced only 3 days in advance, was not a serious debate as promised by Chairman DeViere, but instead a well-rehearsed performance by the “Gang of Four,” who seemingly had already decided they did not want the new event center Downtown?

Bowman: I wasn’t aware there was going to be a debate, promised or otherwise. I do know that at all levels of government, there are very rigid regulations by the county’s standard public notice requirement. The June 4th meeting included several comprehensive presentations on the project costs, parking assessments, construction timelines, financial options for both locations, and professional cost estimates. Everything discussed at that meeting was supported with materials that were made available to the public and certainly provided to the media. A decision on the GMP3 package had to be made that day because the contractor’s bids were due to expire.

Why is it…that they were so eager to tie the cost of a parking deck to the new center, even though the county had planned for years to build a deck anyway?

Bowman: The $33 million parking deck (with an elevator) is needed for the downtown location due to no on-site ADA parking solution that previous planning failed to adequately address, representing a 25% cost increase consistently downplayed in public presentations. The parking deck RFP awarded to Samet Construction identified the Crown Event Center as a use in the scope.

Why is it…that they were using this and anything else they could grab to inflate the cost of the center above and beyond any realistic projections, even adding to their calculations the $30 million already spent and already part of the projected cost, as Commissioner Tyson tried to do?

Bowman: Inflate the cost? In 2014, when the project began, the renovation estimate for the Theatre was $35 million as opposed to the $75 million estimate for the new facility. At this point, it was a no-brainer to build new. However, in 2022, the new facility estimates reached $132 million; then again in 2024, costs reached $163 million, only to be "reduced" in 2025 to $144 million. (This did not include $33 million parking deck). This represents more than 100% increase from the original projections. Up & Coming Weekly editorialized that between 2015 – 2025 no one thought to go and get an updated estimate on what it would cost to renovate the existing Theatre property. I felt this was the first red flag that the downtown Event Center was thought to be a “done deal.”

Why is it…that when County Manager Grier (who deserves kudos for keeping his cool when Commissioner Tyson, in so many words, accused him of fudging results to favor a Downtown location) told them they could include the deck but still stay under budget if he reconfigured it for average daily use instead of maximum occupancy in a worst-case scenario, they ignored his offer?

Bowman: I was at the meeting, and Commissioner Tyson never accused the County Manager of fudging anything. Matter of fact, Tyson addressed all his remarks and his concerns about overinflated costs directly to the architect.

Why is it…that they cancelled the new center by voting “to reject the revised cost estimate (guaranteed maximum cost or GMP3)” instead of saying exactly what they meant? When Commissioners Adams and Jones asked point-blank if it meant the project was cancelled, Chairman DeViere remained stone-faced and steadfastly mute.

Bowman: Again, that vote to reject the GMP3 bid package did not cancel the project. It only rejected the bid.

Why is it…that even though the County’s website lists under “Guiding Principles” for the Crown Event Project that it be “a local and regional asset that builds upon existing development and infrastructure and is a catalyst for existing and new businesses to flourish,” the “Gang of Four” decided to renovate a dilapidated 60-year-old building on 301 rather than Downtown, which has been revitalized thanks to joint partnerships between the City and individual investors, and where it can do the most good for the most people and indeed, the whole community?

Bowman: The June 4th vote was a 5-2 vote to direct the county manager to develop an “RFQ" to renovate and modernize the Crown Arena and Theatre Again, it must be noted that the 2021 CSL study of over 1000 residents showed that when all relevant factors were considered, county residents preferred renovation of the existing facilities over all the downtown options.
One final point of exception to Dr. Parfitt’s quote, “Downtown, which has been revitalized thanks to joint partnerships between the City and individual investors,” Revitalized? No, it hasn’t in spite of “joint partnerships between the City and individual investors.”
And no one knows this better than Hank Parfitt. Fayetteville has great potential, but it will never be realized until it gets leadership that can bring everyone together for the greater good. Historic Downtown Fayetteville should be the Shining Star and number one destination in Cumberland County.
It can be, and will be, with the right leadership.
Bill Bowman can be contacted at: bbowman@upandcomingweekly.com

(Photo: An artist's rendition of the Crown Event Center in downtown Fayetteville. Photo courtesy of City of Fayetteville)