Orange County Gymnastics has found a new, temporary home at the American Legion building in Chapel Hill.

The business had to leave University Mall last week, after town officials realized the building space did not meet state and federal building codes for gymnasiums.
Owners Tim and Jessica Baker asked the Town Council for help last week and have met with town officials about the University Mall space and their old building on Homestead Road, which is owned by the town. The couple bought the business in December, and shortly after found that the town-owned building had asbestos and mold. The town has said it can’t pay to fix the building.

“The town has decided that this is our problem that we need to find more space or that we need to fund the upgrades,” Jessica Baker said at the council meeting. “We purchased a business in good faith and it was housed in a town-owned building we assumed was free from environmental issues."

Town Manager Roger Stancil sent an earlier e-mail to the Town Council last week about Orange County Gymnastics and the building they were renting from the town on Homestead Road. The town discovered at least $165,000 in repairs needed to remove asbestos and mold from the  building, and can't afford do to it now, so they've winterized it until they have the money, Stancil wrote.

Stancil says the business owners will address the council tonight about being kicked out of their temporary location at University Mall.

Here's a look at our local headlines:

GYMNASTICS TAKE A TUMBLE: Orange County Gymnastics in University Mall may close this week, but not for a lack of business. Find out why in Katelyn Ferral's story.

NEW OWNER FOR CLUB NOVA: Meet Kurt O'Briant in our story on the Club Nova apartments. The Carrboro efficiencies are some of the only affordable housing for people with disabilities in our area. Now they're under new ownership.

CHARTER SCHOOL DECISION DAYS AWAY: The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and NAACP oppose it. The backers of the proposed Howard and Lillian Lee Scholars Charter School say the district has had long enough to close the achievement gap. Katelyn Ferral talked with some local African-American parents to find out what they think.

Dave Hart checks out the new exhibit at the FRANK. Catherine Wright says some Orange County folks are forming support circles to help the homeless. And we recap a big decision on the county landfill and the Town Council's first look at the Trinitas student housing project.

Lots more, including a guest column on the state's marriage amendment ... and JFK, by Carrboro Alderwoman Lydia Lavelle.

Thanks for reading,

Mark