Apr 13

Apr 13 Downtown Kinston Revitalization puts Kinston Enterprise Center up for sale to further economic development

After many months of discussion and consultation the Board of Directors of Pride of Kinston, dba Downtown Kinston Revitalization (DK), a 501c3 non-profit organization, has made the decision to list its ~26,000 sf Kinston Enterprise Center (KEC) for sale. The sale will be facilitated by Jess Edwards of Kinston Realty Group. The listing price is $775,000.

Here's the listing

327 N Queen Street is fitted with 28 offices, a loading dock, freight, and passenger elevators, a conference room, storage rooms, and other amenities. This property is not only ideally located downtown but is also in good condition. Not included in the price are the parking lots owned by DK that are located directly behind the building.

Formerly a Sears Department Store, the building was remodeled into a small business incubator in 2003 to stimulate economic development in the downtown Municipal Service District. The incubator component of the redevelopment restrictions for this property expired in 2021.

The incubator did its job. During the 20 years of operating as such, we saw other businesses arrive and building rehabilitations take place downtown. Those include the Kinston Community Health Center, Tands/Bojangles headquarters, Realo Drugs, The O’Neal Hotel, the 1903 building, Art 105, the Community Council for the Arts, and the CSS Neuse Museum to name only a very few.

“DK turns 39 this month. It is time for the next step. DK is not dissolving; we are evolving and looking forward to the opportunities this change can generate. We are regrouping and refocusing our attention on the primary mission of our organization, which is revitalization. Downtown Kinston has experienced a lot of change and reinvestment during these last 39 years and the last 5 years have initiated a new direction and vision that has proved successful and requires our focus. Therefore, DK is stepping away from property management. We may be at a good point downtown, but we cannot become complacent. We have to keep rolling. We still have much to do.”

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