Henderson council selects First National Bank building as site for proposed S-Line mobility hub
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Summary
The City Council voted Feb. 10 to select the First National Bank building as the preferred site for the NCDOT S-Line mobility hub and rail station, following presentations that contrasted the site’s higher renovation cost with the lower-cost Garnett Street Station option and noted historic-preservation and property-acquisition challenges.
The Henderson City Council voted Feb. 10 to approve Resolution 25-06 selecting the First National Bank building as the preferred site for an NCDOT S-Line mobility hub and future rail station. Councilmember Michael Venable moved the resolution; Councilmember Ola Thorpe-Cooper seconded, and the motion was recorded as approved, with Council members Coffey, Noel and Daeke absent.
The council heard presentations from Assistant City Manager Paylor Spruill, NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division Director Brennon Fuqua and Kimley-Horn consultant Ben Crawford. Officials described two candidate locations — the First National Bank building on Garnett Street and the Garnett Street Station with access from William Street — and outlined differences in scope, cost and development impacts. The First National Bank option carries an estimated development cost of about $21 million, including a substantial contingency to reflect a lack of detailed engineering; the Garnett Street Station option was estimated at just over $13 million, mostly for building work and property acquisition.
City staff and consultants told the council that the First National Bank site would require significant interior repairs, potential coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office because of the building’s age, and the construction of a pedestrian bridge or other access across the railroad right-of-way. The Garnett Street Station option also would require property acquisition and renovations but is already part of an existing park-development plan that could reduce some site-preparation needs.
Councilmember Venable argued for taking action on the First National Bank building to prevent continued vacancy, saying, “The First National Bank building has just been sitting there for a long time and it is most likely going to continue to just sit there if something is not done with it.” Councilmember Sam Seifert and others noted that both sites involve significant financial considerations; Seifert referenced the Land Planning Committee’s November and December reviews before the committee recommended the First National Bank site.
Consultants described the mobility hub as a stand-alone project that would provide parking, public open space, restrooms and multimodal pickup areas and said it is being planned independently of the longer-term rail extension work. Next steps described by presenters include an environmental study and preliminary engineering to reach a 30% design level once site selection is finalized.
The council’s approval directs staff to proceed with the First National Bank site as the mobility hub location and to coordinate further studies, engineering and any necessary property-acquisition planning.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 25-06 (site selection) — motion by Michael Venable; second by Ola Thorpe-Cooper; recorded as approved. Absentees: Sara M. Coffey, Lamont Noel and Garry D. Daeke.