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Mount Holly council votes down Mount Holly Historical Society’s $355,000 purchase offer for 131 South Main Street
Summary
After extensive public comment from Historical Society members and residents, a council motion to accept a $355,000 offer for 131 South Main Street failed 4-2. Council discussion referenced prior environmental studies and planned city expenditures for relocating the museum.
Mount Holly City Council on Jan. 13 rejected a proposal to sell the former city hall at 131 South Main Street to the Mount Holly Historical Society for $355,000 after public comment and council debate.The council vote followed a motion to accept the society’s offer contingent on satisfying the requirements of North Carolina General Statute 160 a dash 279; the motion was seconded and failed on a 2-4 roll call.
The offer drew extended public comment from historical society leaders and volunteers who said ownership would keep the museum on Main Street and open grant and fundraising opportunities. “This offer is of good faith with no contingencies,” Nancy Wren, president of the Mount Holly Historical Society, told the council during unscheduled public comment. John Jacob, who said he serves on the society’s board, said, “Our offer is a full appraised value with no strings attached.”
City Manager Luke Blanton reviewed the council’s recent history on the property and budget work related to relocating the museum. Blanton said the city previously paid for an environmental study and has since spent and budgeted for upfitting an alternate municipal space: “We expended approximately $118,160 coming out of the March retreat to work towards putting that upfitting proposal together and have budgeted $680,000 to date in this current fiscal year budget,” he said during the meeting.
Speakers at the public record included board officers and volunteers who described the museum’s volunteer staffing, school and community tours, and concern that moving off Main Street would reduce walk-in visitation. Several speakers said the society had documentation required for a nonprofit purchase, and urged the council to finalize the sale. Council discussion referenced a prior October 2023 council direction to pursue an upset-bid process and a city committee’s recommendation; the city manager said the upset-bid process remains the expected procedural path.
The council motion to accept the historical society offer was made by Councilmember Harris and seconded by Councilmember Reeves. The roll call vote was recorded as: yes — Reeves, Harris; no — Meadows, Shoemaker, Craig, Huff. The motion failed and the council did not approve the sale at that meeting.
Council and staff said they will continue with the previously directed upset-bid process and return to the council with procedural items and any required resolutions. No sale was finalized at the Jan. 13 meeting.
