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Forsyth County to consider temporary lease with City for Highland Avenue overflow shelter
Summary
County property staff briefed commissioners on a proposed lease of county‑owned Annex 2 to the City of Winston‑Salem to operate an overnight overflow shelter from Nov. 15, 2025, through March 1, 2026, with capacity limits and required building modifications before operations begin.
Forsyth County staff on Oct. 20 briefed county commissioners on a proposed lease of 4,357 square feet at 651 Highland Avenue (Annex 2) to the City of Winston‑Salem to be used as a temporary overnight overflow shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Property Manager Emily Mundy said the proposed lease would run from Nov. 15, 2025, to March 1, 2026, unless terminated sooner with 30 days’ written notice by the landlord. The shelter would operate from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and provide separate dormitory spaces with a maximum of 20 male individuals and 15 female individuals.
Mundy said the landlord (the county) will provide basic utilities and the tenant (the city) will provide routine janitorial services; in lieu of additional rent the tenant will reimburse the county monthly for grounds, maintenance and repairs. Services may not begin until required building modifications are completed and approved in writing by the local code official and the landlord.
When asked about upfit cost estimates, Mundy said she did not have a figure and that she did not believe the City had finalized those costs either, but that city staff were present who could provide numbers.
Commissioners praised the level of detail in the proposed lease form. One commissioner said staff had “made sure that that’s in there,” referring to upfit and code requirements, and later asked a question about the late fee for reimbursement, which Mundy said would be 5% of any unpaid balance.
No formal action was taken at the Oct. 20 briefing; the lease authorization will be considered at the regular Oct. 23 meeting. Mundy said work cannot begin until building modifications are completed and approved.
