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Commission told severe termite, foundation damage at 710 New Street; site visits, CHIPO review ordered before any decision
Summary
Commission staff and the applicant reported extensive termite and foundation damage at a contributing house at 710 New Street and said contractors declined to lift the building for repairs; the commission scheduled site visits and will request a State Historic Preservation Office review prior to any demolition decision.
A contractor and the applicant told the New Bern Historic Preservation Commission at its work session that a contributing house at 710 New Street has extensive structural damage and may be unsafe to repair in place.
Rusty Creedy, the applicant, said crews found severe termite damage to key structural members, including rim beams and floor joists, and that many pier supports lack proper footings. One contractor who inspected the property declined to proceed with a house‑lifting plan, citing safety risks for crews and uncertainty about how the building would respond during heavy structural work. Staff noted the building is a contributing structure in the local inventory and that state statute and local rules require a two‑step hearing: first to consider demolition, then — only if demolition is approved — to evaluate redevelopment plans.
Commissioners were briefed on the history of the case: the property previously entered the state’s rebuild program and the owner pursued rehabilitation work before discovering the more extensive structural problems. Staff recommended—and the commission agreed—to arrange limited on‑site visits (groups of four, no off‑record deliberations), to request a desk or field evaluation from the State Historic Preservation Office (CHIPO), and to secure a written review from the chief building inspector and the project engineer. No formal demolition action was taken at the work session; any official determination will come at a future hearing after the requested site inspections and reports are available.
The commission emphasized process steps mandated by its procedures: members should visit the site before a demolition hearing, a CHIPO evaluation is to be solicited, and demolition deliberations must separate demolition merits from replacement design. Staff said they will email CHIPO with updated photos and request a prompt review; they also will schedule the commissioner site visits and post a hearing date once the additional documentation is in hand.
Next steps: commissioners will visit 710 New Street (walkaround only), staff will forward the structural and inspection reports to the chief building inspector and CHIPO, and the commission will consider a demolition determination at a future, publicly noticed meeting.
