After 12 years of work, the Sandy Level Community Building, which is one of the oldest homes deeded to an African-American family in the area, is getting a lot closer to completion.

In a meeting Wednesday night, the community building group got backing from the Mount Airy Historic Preservation Commission to proceed in the process of naming the Sandy Level building a local designated historic site.

Carol Burke, a member of Preservation North Carolina, spoke during the meeting of the Mount Airy Historic Preservation Commission. She told the board that she was interested in seeing the city of Mount Airy become a Certified Local Government.

“To become a CLG requires meeting certain criteria which is available on the State Historic Preservation Web site. The benefits of being a CLG are state and federal grants for local historic preservation projects. The grants that were awarded to CLG’s were announced at the PNC meeting,” Burke said.

She requested that the commission endorse Mount Airy becoming a CLG and becoming more involved with the Sandy Level Community project.

Board member Linda Creech said the board has previously tried to achieve CLG status and found that it was a “very involved process.” Creech suggested that Burke do some further digging into what it is going to take for Mount Airy to get the CLG certification for the board to discuss at its next meeting.

Burke then introduced Jamie Tilley, who is the project manager for Sandy Level Community Center.

“I have taken it upon myself to keep the motivation of the community center going,” Tilley said.

He said Bill Norman Construction stepped up to be the general contractor for the project and the only things that needed to be done to get a certificate of occupancy is some work on one of the bathrooms upstairs and moving one door on the downstairs level.

He said Kevin Thomas, who is a restorationist, is volunteering his time to do the interior. He said that carpentry students from North Surry High School and from Surry Community College will be volunteering their time to help finish the center as well.

“What we need most of all is your time and your efforts,” Tilley said.

Shelby King, president of the Sandy Level Center, also spoke at the meeting. She told the board that the group is seeking the local historical site designation because it will be a benefit to Mount Airy as a whole.

“People want to have weddings there. We can have meetings there. The police department has already committed to having a substation there. This will really benefit our area. We are very much excited about this, and we hope the committee will approve our certification. This was our dream when we bought the property,” King said.

Creech made the motion to support the Sandy Level Community Center in its efforts and said the board would offer its help in any way it could. Betty Wright seconded the motion, and the board approved the motion unanimously.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.