The document discusses the preservation of surplus historic properties in North Carolina through legislation allowing local governments to sell them to nonprofit organizations. Since 1979, over 30 surplus historic properties have been purchased, resulting in more than $50 million in rehabilitation efforts. It highlights various successful transformations of these properties into community-serving facilities, including homes, schools, and centers.

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220 Fayetteville Street, Suite 200
P. O. Box 27644, Raleigh, NC 27611-7644
919/832-3652 • fax 919/832-1651 • info@presnc.org
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2. Often, the Best Use of a
Historic Building
is for its Original Use…
Top left: Caswell County Courthouse,
Yanceyville;
Top right: Dudley High School, Greensboro,
Bottom: Goldsboro City Hall

3. Building #13,
Oteen Center,
VA Hospital,
Asheville
But Sometimes That’s Not Possible,
and a New Use Must Be Found
or the Building Will Be Lost

4. Surplus
Governmental
Property

5. In 1979,
the North Carolina General Assembly
passed a bill that allows
local governments to sell
surplus historic properties to
nonprofit preservation organizations at
a negotiated price, rather than going
through a protracted bidding process.

6. Since then,
at least 30 surplus historic public properties
have been purchased and resold by PNC
under this legislation –
resulting in more than
$50 million in historic rehabilitation!

7. N.C.G.S. 160A-266: Provided, however, a city may dispose of
real property of any value and personal property valued at thirty
thousand dollars ($30,000) or more for any one item or group of similar
items by private negotiation and sale where
(i) said real or personal property is significant for its architectural,
archaeological, artistic, cultural or historical associations, or significant
for its relationship to other property significant for architectural,
archaeological, artistic, cultural or historical associations, or significant
for its natural, scenic or open condition; and
(ii) said real or personal property is to be sold to a nonprofit corporation
or trust whose purposes include the preservation or conservation of real
or personal properties of architectural, archaeological, artistic, cultural,
historical, natural or scenic significance; and
(iii) where a preservation agreement or conservation agreement as
defined in G.S. 121-35 is placed in the deed conveying said property
from the city to the nonprofit corporation or trust. Said nonprofit
corporation or trust shall only dispose of or use said real or personal
property subject to covenants or other legally binding restrictions which
will promote the preservation or conservation of the property, and,
where appropriate, secure rights of public access.

8. Houses

9. Henry Weil House, Goldsboro - Before Demolition plans for this house led
to the passage of this legislation.

10. Henry Now a private home. Weil House, Goldsboro - After

11. Solomon Weil House, Goldsboro
Before
The twin house next door, donated for use
as a public library, was saved by using this
legislation.

12. Solomon Weil House documentary photo

13. Solomon Now, shops… Weil House, Goldsboro - After

14. Solomon …and community landmark once Weil House, Goldsboro
again.

15. McGuire-Setzer House, Mocksville
Before
This early house was donated to
the local library which planned to
tear it down.

16. McGuire-Setzer House, Mocksville
After Now, a home.

17. McKay House, Dunn - Before Another example of a house donated to a
local government which didn’t have a use
for it.

18. Now, a home. McKay House, Dunn - After

19. Ivy Hill, Halifax County - Before
Donated to the state for the
expansion of an adjacent park. The
parks system didn’t want the
responsibility.

20. Ivy Hill, Halifax County - Before

21. Ivy Hill, Now a home. Halifax County - After

22. Ivy Hill, Halifax County - After

23. Utilities

24. Bain Water Treatment Plant, Raleigh

25. Bain Renovation pending… Water Treatment Plant, Raleigh

26. Bain Water Treatment Plant, Raleigh
…meanwhile, a great place
for photographers……

27. Bain …and fashion Water Treatment Plant, Raleigh

28. Bain Water Treatment Plant, Raleigh

29. Bain Water Treatment “Exceptionally cool” Plant, Raleigh

30. Libraries

31. Durham Vacated for a new library. Public Library - Before

32. Durham Now, law offices. Public Library - After

33. Durham Public Library - After

34. Perry Memorial Former library. Now offices. Library, Henderson

35. Historic
African-American
Schools

36. Walnut Cove Colored School, Stokes County
Before
A long-vacant former
Rosenwald school

37. Walnut Cove Colored School, Stokes County
After
Now, a community center.

38. Lincoln Heights High School,
North Wilkesboro
Another former Rosenwald
school being used as a
community center.

39. Oak Grove School, Bethania

40. A former Rosenwald school Oak Grove School, Bethania
that’s now a museum.

41. One of the last African-American schools
built in NC, it will be converted into
affordable housing and other community
uses.
Dunbar School, Lexington

42. City Halls –
and Other
Governmental
Buildings

43. A long-vacant former city hall. Old Sanford City Hall - Before

44. Old Now, home of Progressive Contracting, Sanford City Hall - After
which specializes in historic
rehabilitation.

45. Another former town hall. Rutherfordton Town Hall

46. Rutherfordton Town Hall

47. Now, a home. Rutherfordton Town Hall

48. Wilrik A former hotel used for years for Hotel, Sanford - Before
county government offices.

49. Wilrik Hotel, Sanford, Lobby – Documentary Photo

50. Wilrik Hotel, Sanford, Lobby Before Renovation

51. Wilrik Hotel, Sanford, Lobby During Renovation

52. Wilrik Hotel, Sanford, Lobby -- After

53. Wilrik Now, affordable housing. Hotel, Sanford - After

54. Wilrik Hotel, Sanford

55. Renovation pending. Old Rocky Mount Post Office

56. Hospitals

57. Former hospital, now affordable
housing.
Maria Parham Hospital, Henderson

58. Walker Apartments, Wilmington
Former nurses’ dormitory,
now affordable housing.

59. Walker Apartments, Wilmington

60. Schools

61. Old Mount Olive
High School - Before

62. Old Mount Olive
High School - Before

63. Old Mount Olive High School - After
Former school, now affordable
housing and a community
auditorium.

64. Old Mount Olive High School - After

65. Old Mount Olive High School - After

66. Swain Former school, now affordable housing, School, Edenton - After
local arts council, and community
auditorium.

67. Former public school, now a charter
school.
Gastonia Central Elementary School – Documentary

68. Gastonia Central Elementary School

69. Gastonia Central Elementary School

70. East Flat Rock High School, Before

71. East Flat Former school, now affordable Rock High School, After
housing.

72. East Flat Rock High School

73. Charles L. Coon High School, Wilson - Before

74. Former school, now affordable
housing. with community
Charles L. Coon High School, Wilson - After
auditorium

75. Charles L. Coon High School, Wilson

76. Charles L. Coon
High School, Wilson

77. Charles L. Coon High School, Wilson

78. Charles L. Coon High School, Wilson

79. Charles L. Coon High School, Wilson

80. Dallas High School, Dallas

81. Dallas Former school, now affordable High School, Dallas
housing.

82. Dallas High School, After

83. John A. Wilkinson High School, Belhaven

84. John A. Wilkinson High School, Belhaven
Former school,
now community center.

85. Reidsville High School - Before

86. Reidsville High School - Before

87. Reidsville Former school, now affordable High School - After
housing.

89. Mulberry Street School, Statesville - Before

90. Mulberry Street School, Statesville - After Former school,
now affordable housing.

91. Mayworth School, Cramerton - Before

92. Mayworth School, Cramerton - Before

93. Mayworth School, Cramerton - Fire

94. Mayworth Former school, now affordable School, Cramerton - After
housing.

95. Mayworth School, Cramerton

96. Lenoir High School, Lenoir - Before

97. Lenoir Former school, now affordable High School, Lenoir
housing and community
auditorium.

98. Lenoir High School, Lenoir

99. Once unneeded and unwanted,
these surplus public properties
once again serve their communities
in a variety of new uses –
representing more than
$50 million in historic rehabilitation!

100. Know of a surplus public property
that needs a new use?
Let Preservation North Carolina know.
[click here!]
You can fill out our online form at
PreservationNC.org/Surplus

101. Protecting the IrreplaceableTM
in North Carolina since 1939
220 Fayetteville Street Mall, Suite 200
P. O. Box 27644, Raleigh, NC 27611-7644
919-832-3652 • fax 919-832-1651 • info@presnc.org
www.PreservationNC.org