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Board votes to dispose of house
Tom Joyce
Staff Reporter
After nearly a year-long controversy involving the fate of an old house on Cherry Street near Reeves Community Center, Mount Airy officials voted Thursday night to have it sold by a state preservation organization.
The 1920s-era structure at 305 Cherry St. is now in the hands of Preservation North Carolina, which works to protect and promote buildings, landscapes and sites important to the state’s heritage.
Local preservationists had fought to save the dilapidated structure located in the city’s historic district, which some wanted torn down in order to provide more parking space for the community center. Those in favor of preserving it said they feared that razing the now-vacant house would threaten neighboring properties and the historic district overall.
The property had sat in limbo since March, when Mount Airy officials decided to reject several purchase offers that had been received through a city-solicited bid process after the site was declared surplus property.
Thursday night’s vote by the Board of Commissioners means that Preservation North Carolina will market the house at a price of $47,500, which the community center paid for the property in 2002. The state organization will have a six-month option to purchase the house.
If a buyer is found, the city will sell the house to Preservation North Carolina, which will then place standard restrictive covenants on the property to ensure its restoration. The group will in turn transfer the property to the buyer and the municipality will receive the $47,500, with no real estate commission to be paid.
The resolution approved by the commissioners also stipulates that the rundown structure is being sold as is, with the city having no warranty responsibilities regarding termites, asbestos or other conditions there.
Before the vote, Commissioner David Beal said that he wanted to see the selling price upped to $56,000, which he said represents the total amount of public funds that have been sunk into the property. That price, Beal said, would cover “the fiduciary responsibility of this board to the taxpayers.”
However, others balked at that idea, saying that the higher price likely would discourage buyers.
“The only thing I would say is the house has undergone a tremendous amount of deterioration” in recent years, said Commissioner Dean Brown.
Commissioner Deborah Cochran concurred. “It’s really not worth what it was when Reeves purchased it,” Cochran said.
“I’d rather see it at $47,000 and get rid of it,” added Brown.
Sex Offenders Banned From Parks
In other action Thursday night, the city commissioners voted unanimously to prohibit registered sex offenders from visiting parks and other outdoor recreational facilities in Mount Airy.
An ordinance passed to that effect applies to such sites as Riverside Park, Westwood Park and greenway facilities operated by the municipality both now and in the future.
“This ordinance is an effort to keep our citizens, especially children, safe in these areas,” Assistant City Manager Barbara Jones said in presenting the proposal in the absence of City Manager Don Brookshire.
“We’re not plowing any new ground here,” said Mayor Jack Loftis. “We are following the lead of some of the larger cities and some of our neighbors.”
Elkin, for example, recently adopted a similar safeguard.
The motivation behind the ordinance is that 70 registered sex offenders presently live in Surry County, and such offenders tend to have high rates of recidivism. Public parks often are places where they prey on victims, local recreational officials have said.
Under the ordinance, violators could be sentenced to at least 30 days in jail and fined no less than $500 per offense.
The ordinance requires the city manager to post the regulation at the main entrance of every park within the next 30 days.
In response to a question from a board member Thursday night, city Police Chief Roger McCreary said he “absolutely” supports the change.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or 719-1924.
Staff Reporter
After nearly a year-long controversy involving the fate of an old house on Cherry Street near Reeves Community Center, Mount Airy officials voted Thursday night to have it sold by a state preservation organization.
The 1920s-era structure at 305 Cherry St. is now in the hands of Preservation North Carolina, which works to protect and promote buildings, landscapes and sites important to the state’s heritage.
Local preservationists had fought to save the dilapidated structure located in the city’s historic district, which some wanted torn down in order to provide more parking space for the community center. Those in favor of preserving it said they feared that razing the now-vacant house would threaten neighboring properties and the historic district overall.
The property had sat in limbo since March, when Mount Airy officials decided to reject several purchase offers that had been received through a city-solicited bid process after the site was declared surplus property.
Thursday night’s vote by the Board of Commissioners means that Preservation North Carolina will market the house at a price of $47,500, which the community center paid for the property in 2002. The state organization will have a six-month option to purchase the house.
If a buyer is found, the city will sell the house to Preservation North Carolina, which will then place standard restrictive covenants on the property to ensure its restoration. The group will in turn transfer the property to the buyer and the municipality will receive the $47,500, with no real estate commission to be paid.
The resolution approved by the commissioners also stipulates that the rundown structure is being sold as is, with the city having no warranty responsibilities regarding termites, asbestos or other conditions there.
Before the vote, Commissioner David Beal said that he wanted to see the selling price upped to $56,000, which he said represents the total amount of public funds that have been sunk into the property. That price, Beal said, would cover “the fiduciary responsibility of this board to the taxpayers.”
However, others balked at that idea, saying that the higher price likely would discourage buyers.
“The only thing I would say is the house has undergone a tremendous amount of deterioration” in recent years, said Commissioner Dean Brown.
Commissioner Deborah Cochran concurred. “It’s really not worth what it was when Reeves purchased it,” Cochran said.
“I’d rather see it at $47,000 and get rid of it,” added Brown.
Sex Offenders Banned From Parks
In other action Thursday night, the city commissioners voted unanimously to prohibit registered sex offenders from visiting parks and other outdoor recreational facilities in Mount Airy.
An ordinance passed to that effect applies to such sites as Riverside Park, Westwood Park and greenway facilities operated by the municipality both now and in the future.
“This ordinance is an effort to keep our citizens, especially children, safe in these areas,” Assistant City Manager Barbara Jones said in presenting the proposal in the absence of City Manager Don Brookshire.
“We’re not plowing any new ground here,” said Mayor Jack Loftis. “We are following the lead of some of the larger cities and some of our neighbors.”
Elkin, for example, recently adopted a similar safeguard.
The motivation behind the ordinance is that 70 registered sex offenders presently live in Surry County, and such offenders tend to have high rates of recidivism. Public parks often are places where they prey on victims, local recreational officials have said.
Under the ordinance, violators could be sentenced to at least 30 days in jail and fined no less than $500 per offense.
The ordinance requires the city manager to post the regulation at the main entrance of every park within the next 30 days.
In response to a question from a board member Thursday night, city Police Chief Roger McCreary said he “absolutely” supports the change.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or 719-1924.
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