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Mount Holly council directs negotiation with RTR Property Management for 131 South Main
Summary
After reviewing three proposals for 131 South Main Street, the Mount Holly City Council voted to direct staff to negotiate terms with RTR Property Management, citing local reinvestment, mixed-use plans and preservation commitments despite objections about lost upfront proceeds from a prior upset bid.
The Mount Holly City Council voted to direct staff to negotiate a development agreement with RTR Property Management for 131 South Main Street after a staff review committee rated RTR highest among three proposals, City Manager Blanton said.
The decision follows a months‑long process under N.C. law involving an earlier upset‑bid sequence and a later request for proposals (RFP). Blanton told the council the RFP process was intended to give the city flexibility to evaluate proposals based on factors beyond price, including alignment with long‑term planning goals and job creation.
The motion to authorize negotiations was made by Councilman Meadows and seconded by Councilman Huff. The vote was 3 in favor, 2 opposed; Meadows, Councilman Craig and Huff voted yes, Councilwoman Harris and Councilman Reeves voted no.
Blanton summarized the RFP record: the city initially declined to sell the property under the upset‑bid process governed by North Carolina General Statute 160A‑279, accepted a bid of $762,500 from a Charlotte group (referred to in staff materials as the Muni/Scott Abrams offer), then received an upset bid from the Mount Holly Historical Society for $815,000. After rejecting those offers, the council designated the property for negotiated sale under N.C. Gen. Stat. 158‑7‑1 and issued an RFP that closed May 29; the city received three proposals in the RFP window.
The three proposals and the amounts disclosed by staff were: - The Muni (Scott Abrams): $762,500; proposed coworking, studios, event and maker space. - J and M Holdings (Mr. Vargas): $500,000; proposed mixed use with retail and professional offices. - RTR Property Management (Billy Rick): $600,000; proposed mixed use with an anchor restaurant, residential units on the top floor and office/tenant space.
A staff review committee that included Assistant City Manager Brian DuPont, Planning Director Greg Beal, City Engineer John Ford and Economic Development Director Matt Black evaluated proposals on experience, downtown vision alignment, development approach and financial readiness. Blanton said RTR scored highest on a weighted system, citing its local track record, a planned mixed‑use program that staff estimated would create as many as about 70 jobs and a proposed investment of approximately $2.5 million to renovate the building.
Councilman Meadows objected to moving forward because the earlier upset bid left the city with a higher one‑time cash offer of $815,000. He raised taxpayer concerns and presented staff figures estimating roughly $3,250 in annual property tax revenue if the building had remained on the tax rolls, saying taking the $815,000 would have represented many years of tax revenue upfront.
Councilwoman Harris also questioned the scoring/point system and said the city had turned down “a lot of money.” Supporters of the staff recommendation, including Meadows (who also spoke in favor) and Councilman Craig, emphasized RTR’s local investments downtown, the projected increase in weekly activity downtown and the proposal’s longer‑term economic benefits, which Blanton and Meadows described as a combination of property tax, sales tax and ABC (alcohol beverage tax) revenue.
Blanton noted the RFP process also considered the city’s goal of preserving the building’s historic and architectural integrity. He reminded council that the city has been relocating the Mount Holly museum from 131 South Main to the municipal complex: design work by Creech and Associates was approved for $68,000; initial demolition by MC Moore was authorized at $94,449; and a later construction contract with Pinnocks was described in staff remarks as about $684,000, with Blanton stating the combined MC Moore and Pinnocks total at $786,834 and an expected upfitting completion date of Sept. 30, 2025.
Blanton said if negotiations with RTR fail the city attorney would return to council for direction on whether to pursue one of the other proposals.
The council’s motion directs staff and the city attorney to begin negotiation of a development agreement with RTR Property Management; it does not finalize a sale. Blanton said a negotiated agreement would be followed by a public hearing and, if agreed, execution of a purchase and sale agreement.
