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Kinston council approves three local historic landmarks amid equity questions from residents
Summary
After a public hearing in which residents raised equity concerns, the Kinston City Council unanimously approved landmark designations for three privately-nominated properties: The O'Neill (200 N. Queen), the Imperial Tobacco Company office (426 N. Heritage), and the Midtown Motor Lodge (501 N. Heritage).
The Kinston City Council on Feb. 17 unanimously approved Local Historic Landmark designations for three privately nominated properties, prompting public comment about who benefits from local preservation incentives.
Planner Jordan Kearney and Planning and Code Enforcement Director Elizabeth Blount told the council the designations carry no direct cost to the city and invoke a Certificate of Appropriateness requirement that prevents exterior demolition or incompatible alterations. The properties—200 North Queen Street (Farmers and Merchants Bank / The O'Neill), 426 North Heritage Street (Imperial Tobacco Company Office Building), and 501 North Heritage Street (Midtown Motor Lodge / Mother Earth Motor Lodge)—each met criteria tied to historic events and architecture, Kearney said.
During the public hearing, Dean Baker provided historical context for the nominations, noting details such as the elevator at 200 North Queen holding a historic state certificate. Several residents, including Quarla Blackwell and Tonya Koonce Sutton, questioned whether landmark tax incentives disproportionately favor non-Black property owners and urged the city to do more to identify and support historically Black properties. Planner Kearney and Director Blount responded that the process is owner-initiated, that the ordinance sets the COA requirement, and that any qualifying property owner may apply.
Councilmember Antonio Hardy moved to approve each designation; Councilmember Barbara Seaforth seconded the motions. Each designation passed unanimously.
What this means: Designated properties will require HPC-approved Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior work and will be eligible for preservation incentives and tax benefits available under the City's ordinance. The designation does not obligate the city to fund restoration, and Director Blount confirmed the listings were filed by private owners, not the city.
Councilmembers said they intend to encourage broader community participation in the landmark process. Hardy noted he plans to contact families of other historically significant property owners to discuss potential nominations. The hearing record shows residents pressing the council to make outreach and equitable access to the landmark process a priority.
The council took separate unanimous votes to designate (1) 200 North Queen Street, (2) 426 North Heritage Street, and (3) 501 North Heritage Street.
The council closed the public hearing and moved on to the action agenda.
