Lenoir County approves city-county demolition program
Lenoir County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding Monday to create a city-county demolition program aimed at addressing blighted commercial properties along major corridors through Kinston and Lenoir County.
The program would be funded jointly by the city of Kinston and Lenoir County, with each government contributing $200,000 for an initial $400,000 capital fund. The program will focus on highways 11, 55, 58, 70 and 258, according to county documents.
Adam Short, assistant county manager, said the proposal grew out of the City-County Joint Working Committee and follows the jointly funded demolition of the former Super 8 motel on U.S. 70.
“One thing you’ll recall that the county and the city partnered on the Super 8, former Super 8 motel demolition. I think that was a big success,” Short said. “And when talking with the Joint Working Committee, we wanted to find other projects like that really are along the major thoroughfares through the city and the county to really try and clean up some of the aesthetics through town.”
Short said the program is intended to focus primarily on commercial properties along major corridors and would be separate from residential demolition work handled by the city or county.
“So there’s the concept focusing on commercial properties primarily, major thoroughfares through town,” Short said. “We’re separating this program specifically from any residential programs.”
Short showed commissioners several properties under review, including locations near Lenoir Community College, U.S. 70, King Street, U.S. 258 South and South Queen Street. He said the list was not final.
“This is by no means a definitive list,” Short said. “There’s plenty more to look at, and I’m sure there will be plenty more in the future.”
Short said the county and city could turn some properties back into productive use after demolition, including the former Super 8 site.
“There’s also an opportunity to turn a liability into an asset,” Short said. “That Super 8 motel, for example, we’re actively working on putting a lane, getting that under county or city ownership would be a great site right along the river for possible kayak launch, something like that.”
He also said formal pressure from local governments can sometimes prompt owners to act before public money is spent.
“Just by putting that pressure, just by sending that notice, having that hearing, a lot of these owners will take care of it, take care of the demolition themselves,” Short said.
Commissioner June Cummings, who serves on the joint committee, said the program is an answer to a question she has heard from residents for years.
“For years, I’ve heard, why doesn’t somebody do something about that?” Cummings said. “And this is our opportunity to be the somebody that does something about this.”
Chair Linda Rouse Sutton said the county and city have “a long ways to go,” but said the effort has already begun with projects such as the former Super 8 motel.
“When people ride through, you come in through Highway 11 or you come in through 70,” Sutton said. “When you look at it, it’s not a very inviting ride. And so that’s what we’re striving for, is to let people know that once you get by that bounder, there is a city of Kinston and there are a lot of nice looking things.”
The board approved the program after a motion and second. No opposition was heard during the vote.
