Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Preservation groups and Historic Preservation Commission back repeal of Higgs House designation; protective covenants and rehabilitation agreement in place
Summary
Speakers at Greenville's June 12 meeting urged council to approve repeal of a local historic-landmark ordinance for the Higgs House and described a preservation path that includes protective covenants and a rehabilitation agreement. No final council vote on the repeal appears in the provided transcript.
Speakers at the June 12 Greenville City Council meeting told council they support repeal of a local ordinance related to the Higgs House and described a preservation approach that includes deed-run protective covenants and a rehabilitation agreement that sets a timeline for restoration.
Andrew Morehead, chair of the city's Historic Preservation Commission, told the council the commission supports the repeal. He said the Higgs House meets local landmark criteria for both architectural significance (Queen Anne revival features, including an elaborate double stair and 10-foot ceiling-paneled hallway) and historical association with Jacob W. Higgs, a local businessman notable for multiple enterprises in Greenville. Morehead also said the city previously ordered the building's demolition because it was a safety hazard and commended staff and others for work to reach a better outcome.
Maggie Grama, eastern office regional director for Preservation North Carolina, said the property is now subject to protective covenants that run with the deed and a rehabilitation agreement with a restoration timeline. She said the covenants require that "the interior and exterior important architectural elements be maintained and preserved while adapting it for new use" and that they ‘‘prevent any further deferred maintenance in perpetuity.'''The speakers framed the repeal as a means to preserve the house through an adaptive reuse and to allow a new business and tax base while retaining historic features under covenants.
The transcript provided includes public comment in favor of the repeal and expressions of gratitude from council members; it does not include a recorded final vote on the repeal ordinance in the portions of the transcript provided. If council acts on a repeal, staff indicated protective covenants and the rehabilitation agreement will guide restoration and future oversight.
Council members and staff present at the discussion included Mayor PJ Conley, Historic Preservation Commission Chair Andrew Morehead and preservation staff from Preservation North Carolina.
