Wendell Town Council approves Carver School redevelopment agreement with Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

The Wendell Board Meeting on January 13, 2025, focused on the approval of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) concerning the redevelopment of the historic Carver School site located at 948 Morphis Bridge Road. The agreement involves the Town of Wendell, the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer, and Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.

During the meeting, officials discussed the implications of redeveloping the Carver School site into a community center, which is expected to have an adverse effect on the historic property that is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The use of federal funds for this project necessitates a review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to determine appropriate mitigation strategies for the potential impacts on the site.

The draft MOA outlines several key components, including the documentation of the current condition of the Carver School through photography and the creation of a virtual story map that will highlight the history of education in Wendell. This initiative aims to showcase historic school properties, including the Carver School, and will be coordinated with local historical organizations.

The board members unanimously approved the MOA, allowing the town manager to sign the final agreement after minor edits. This approval is a crucial step in fulfilling federal reporting requirements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provided funding for the project.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from town officials to continue collaborating with historical partners to ensure the preservation of the site's significance while moving forward with the redevelopment plans.