Work to begin at former Farmers Oil Company property in Walstonburg
WALSTONBURG — Contractors are expected to begin clearing portions of the former Farmers Oil Company property and demolishing two older warehouses this week, according to Greene County officials.
The work at the downtown site along West Railroad Avenue will leave existing concrete pads in place and prepare the property for additional environmental assessments and potential reuse.
The project is supported by the Lenoir, Wayne and Greene County Brownfields Coalition and funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Grant Program. County officials said the work will be completed at no cost to the property owners, the town of Walstonburg or Greene County.
The coalition helps identify, assess and revitalize underused or potentially contaminated properties across the three counties. Its work aims to address obstacles that can prevent older properties from returning to productive use.
Historical research conducted for the project indicates Farmers Oil Company was established around 1948 and operated at the site until the early 2000s. The two warehouses slated for demolition date to approximately 1950.
The property is near the railroad, the former Walstonburg Train Depot, the former Farmers Gin and Mill property and the former Walstonburg Hardware Store.
“This is the kind of project that can make a lasting difference for a small community,” said Bennie Heath, chairman of the Greene County Board of Commissioners. “We are taking a property that has been underused for many years and putting it in a better position for the future.”
Initial site assessments have been completed. County officials said demolition and clearing will allow additional assessments to better define conditions at the site and address barriers to reuse. The announcement did not identify a specific redevelopment plan.
The EPA-funded program can support environmental assessments, asbestos and lead testing, underground tank sampling or removal, property condition assessments, feasibility studies, cleanup planning and reuse planning.
“This project is a good example of what can happen when folks work together and keep at it,” said Trey Cash, chief operating officer of the N.C. Global TransPark Economic Development Region.
County officials said the project has involved more than a year of work with the property owners and partners, including Walstonburg officials and staff, Mid Atlantic Associates, Lenoir County, Wayne County and the N.C. Global TransPark Economic Development Region.
Additional phases of the regional effort will examine other buildings and properties in the area to determine whether available grant funding can support assessment and planning for future renovation and reuse.
More information about the regional program is available at LWGbrownfields.com.
