Group to save historic homes
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on September 15, 2014 1:46 PM
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Goldsboro Historic Properties' first renovation project at 412 N. James St. Renovations began the first week of August after the group closed on its first property.
In an ongoing effort to revitalize and renew interest in the downtown area, Goldsboro Historic Properties, LLC, has formed to buy and restore historic homes.
GHP, which started doing business this spring, just closed on its first historic home at 412 N. James St. the first week of August and is well on its way to restoring it to its former glory.
"The goal is to build the neighborhoods back," said Amy Bauer, one of the partners. "It only takes a few houses before people start noticing."
The group consists of Allison Platt, Amy and Jay Bauer, Wendy and Denny Town, David, Pam and Betty Duncan and Ruth and David Glisson. Most are owners of historic homes and began meeting for breakfast at the first of the year. After some discussion, they decided to take action on their passion for revitalizing downtown.
"Rather than talk about it, we're going to do something about it," Mrs. Bauer said.
The James Street property should be finished within the coming months, they said, but the group would not disclose the cost of buying and renovating the house.
Wendy Town said they hope to list the house at $115,000 when renovations are complete.
"We have a three-year plan to do as many as we can," Mrs. Bauer said. "We encourage anyone to join, and there are new member slots available for anyone to become members or investors that want to help."
The James Street property originally belonged to John Collier in 1845, who was from North Carolina, Bauer said.
Antonio Williams of The Ice Storm downtown painted the house for Goldsboro Historic Properties and said that the group has "really helped me a lot."
The group does not want downtown Goldsboro to have a stigma of being unsafe, and wants people to become involved in the effort to help bring business and homeowners back to the area. Rebuilding historic homes is how they plan to tackle the issue.
Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. is also involved in the historic home market, with a neighborhood plan that covers three downtown areas and 22 homes. DGDC has partnered with Berkshire Hathaway to help sell homes, and director Julie Metz said the relationship has been helpful.
DGDC has about $150,000 in a revolving fund provided by the city to aid in purchasing the homes, and Ms. Metz said any profit made on the homes goes back into the same revolving fund to continue restoring historic homes.
The corporation also has a partnership with Preservation North Carolina, which provides DGDC with options on homes. An option, Ms. Metz said, does not require DGDC to purchase the home, and gives the organization one year to decide if it wants to sell the home or to drop or to renew the contract on the home.
Only just a few weeks ago, DGDC closed on three properties at 403, 407 and 408 S. John St., leaving only five of the 22 homes in the neighborhood plan left to be sold or restored.