Join Us ~ Volunteer Work Day ~ January 24th

Please join NOMA in a Volunteer Work Day! 

Saturday January 24th 

8:00am ~ 12:00pm 

Three North Main Sites

♦  1131 N. Main Street / Tree Planting

NOMA joins the City of Salisbury and the Community Development Corporation in the continuation of the beautification project we've been doing at the corner of E. 11th Street and North Main Street.  The abandoned A.T.I.C. gas station has been demolished, new storm drains installed, and new gutters take the place of old driveway aprons (Thank you, NC DOT!).  The new green space has been graded and seeded.  Now we get to do the fun stuff!  Plant trees!  (If you'd like to try something fun, go to Google maps and type in 1131 N. Main Street, Salisbury NC ~ and go to 'Street View'.  When you first land on Main Street, it's a beautiful summer day, crepe myrtles in bloom, and as you travel north on Main Street, our A.T.I.C. gas station is there....but when you cross the 11th Street intersection, it becomes a wintery morning.  Turn around to the south again...and the gas station is gone!  You can see some of the work in progress!)

♦  1428 N. Main Street / General Exterior Clean Up

NOMA joins the Historic Salisbury Foundation in their efforts, via their Revolving Fund, to stabilize the circa 1900 home at 1428 N. Main Street.  Work has already begun in repairing windows and chimney flashings.  We can help too!

♦  1600 N. Main Street / General Exterior Clean Up

NOMA joins the Historic Salisbury Foundation in their efforts, via their Revolving Fund, to stabilize the circa 1912 home at 1600 N. Main Street.  We can help too!  We'll be doing general exterior clean up...clipping, pruning, weeding, and trimming!

Please plan to meet at 1600 N Main Street at 8:00 am or anytime you can make it between 8am and noon on January 24th.  Please bring rakes, gloves, and hand pruners, etc., and make sure your name is on all tools. 

This event is rain or shine!

Tell your friends, tell your neighbors!  

This is a come-one, come-all event!

The North Main Neighborhood Association
northmainneighborhood@gmail.com

Code Enforcement and Property Demolition at 108 W. Steele Street

At our November NOMA meeting, we discussed the blight to the neighborhood represented by the property at 108 W. Steele Street that was damaged in a fire in August 2013 yet left standing until now. We have had several differing reports as to the progress of its demolition.

Neighbors attended a Historic Preservation Commission public forum on July 10, 2014 to be able to provide input on a request to the Commission from Code Enforcement to demolish the (3) buildings on the 108 W. Steele Street parcel.  After much discussion and much to our dismay, the HPC stayed the demolition for 65 days.

We've been calling Code Enforcement and getting conflicting information about the proposed demolition.  We've been told several times that a Request for Bids had been posted for (12) city properties, and that 108 W. Steele was on this list.  Yet when we asked again when that might be, we were told that 108 W. Steele had to be inspected in order to properly identify components of the demolition.  When we asked again, we were told that ONLY the house structure was to come down.  Knowing the former gas station on the property is an enormous safety issue, with no flooring or roofing in place, we were surprised and disappointed.

At Council Meeting on Tuesday, Nov 18th, a NOMA representative besought City Council to address our abandoned house issues along the Main Street corridor, and requested that they additionally work to remove street weeds along the main drag.  We expressed our gratitude that Historic Salisbury Foundation is focusing stabilization efforts on some of our 'loose gems', but that certainly this private foundation cannot be expected to correct the entire situation.  Our North Main Street corridor is the last remaining residential corridor into the City, and is the city's chance to make a first impression to visitors to the NC Transportation Museum to the north, and the coming Rowan Central School Office at our south boundary. 

Council members assured us that the property at 108 W. Steele Street was to be demolished in 3-weeks, yet again said that only the house structure was to come down. To follow through, NOMA resident Sue McHugh contacted Chris Branham/City of Salisbury Code Enforcement on this demolition, and was told the house would be gone in three weeks, and further clarified the status: Code Enforcement has (9) houses on the demolition list. An asbestos study had to be done for each. Luckily our 108 W Steele does not have an asbestos issue. The demolition projects have gone out for bid and bids were due December 1st. We learned that, while it may additional time after bid closings to finalize demolition plans, 108 W Steele Street is first on the list to come down. The demolition will include the former gas station that faces N. Main Street, the house that faces W. Steele Street, but will NOT include the small free-standing residential garage.Utilities have been removed from the site, and demolition should begin soon.  Central Piedmont Builders is the contractor for the job, the same contractor doing the restoration and up fit to the Bernhardt Hardware Building in the 100 block of North Main Street.  To date, demolition on 108 W. Steele Street has not begun.

While we regret losing properties to Demolition by Neglect such as this abandoned property on W. Steele Street, we felt this property was a safety and criminal hazard to the neighborhood.  The investment required to (#1) purchase the property, and (#2) reconstruct and stabilize the property, unfortunately far outweighed the total property worth.  

Neighbors were diligent in calling both the Salisbury Police Department and Salisbury Code Enforcement with concerns about the property.  We indeed have learned through this process that the squeaky wheel does, in fact, get the grease!







NOMA ~ The North Main Neighborhood
northmainneighborhood@gmail.com

Saving 1428 North Main Street, Salisbury NC!

Although the North Main neighborhood is filled with beautiful homes throughout, there is no question that we have some endangered homes amongst us, that we have, in the past, called our 'loose gems'.  Some of these homes have been left empty ~ abandoned to neglect.  

Run-down and abandoned homes can make an entire neighborhood look bad. Trash, overgrown grass and pest problems can spill over into neighboring properties. But abandoned houses can be more than just an eyesore -- they can be safety hazards and hotbeds for criminal activity.  It is an understatement to say that trying to get property owners to take responsibility for their home is a challenge!

Thankfully, our Historic Salisbury Foundation (HSF) has never been afraid of a challenge when it comes to neighborhood revitalization.  HSF is focusing on several key properties in the North Main Neighborhood, in an effort to strengthen this gateway into Historic Salisbury, North Carolina.  

Work has already begun ~ and you should start seeing progress immediately ~ on 1428 North Main Street.  This home, the circa 1905 (1910?) Morris-Myers House, has been empty for some time.  Dubbed 'The Scaffolding House', for the scaffold left in place for over a decade, this house has been a thorn in the neighborhood's side for what feels like an eternity.  The neighborhood has always hoped for a beautiful future for this house.  Well, the scaffolding is already gone!

The home is listed on the North Main Street Historic District Inventory in the National Register of Historic Places as follows:

"This expansive two-story dwelling was probably constructed about 1910.  Little information about it is available from the city directories or other sources. Its hipped roof and projecting front and side gables are characteristically Victorian, as is its asymmetrical composition and the rear porch, which features handsome turned posts and bold sawn brackets.  The front porch supported by tall, slender columns, may have replaced an original wrap-around porch featuring turned posts and sawn brackets similar to the rear porch."

Historic Salisbury Foundation uses its Revolving Fund to stabilize houses such as these.  In addition to the Myers House, the Foundation has also just signed papers to be able to stabilize the single story pebble-dash house at 1600 North Main Street - the circa 1912 Hunter-Mowery House.  The Register describes this home as "the best preserved working class Victorian cottage in the district."  NOMA is most grateful that the HSF has turned its attention to our important gateway community.   The North Main neighborhood is the last remaining residential corridor leading to Downtown Salisbury NC and has proceeds in an almost unbroken rhythm of  the most eclectic and wide variety of early twentieth century domestic architectural styles.  This variety provides an excellent picture of how this neighborhood and other twentieth century Salisbury neighborhoods, now destroyed by urban development, appeared during 1900-1930.

While HSF is focusing its revolving fund activities on several key distressed properties in the North Main area and recently acquired the Myers House at 1428 North Main, we hope that many will support these endeavors by considering donating to the Go Fund Me campaign (Click link below!) to revitalize this gateway to Salisbury. Your support will be kept in Historic Salisbury Foundation's revolving fund and used on many projects for years to come. Click this link to find the fundraising campaign for this home:

http://www.gofundme.com/heq7tg

Your donation will help stabilize the circa 1915 Myers House, strengthen the North Main Historic District and continue to support HSF's revolving fund for years to come. Proceeds from the sale of revolving fund properties goes into purchasing and stabilizing more historic houses in the community.  Stabilizing this home at 1428 N. Main Street and the home at 1600 N. Main will make a remarkable impact to the North Main Neighborhood!

Thank you for making a difference!

Neighborhood Meeting ~ Friday November 14th ~ 5:30PM

NOMA Meeting:  5:30 p.m. at 917 N. Main (home of Robert Crum and Cherie Turner)

The November North Main Neighborhood meeting will take place this Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 at 5:30pm at the home of Cherie Turner and Robert Crum at 927 North Main Street, Salisbury.

Do you live in the NOMA neighborhood?  If you live between Lafayette Street and 17th Street, and between Railroad Street and N. Jackson Street  ~ in Salisbury North Carolina ~ the answer is 'YES'!

All those living in the neighborhood are welcome and encouraged to attend.  This is not only a time for a social get-together to better get to know your neighbors, but an opportunity to discuss any issues that may impact our quality of life in our neighborhood. 

If you wish, please bring your favorite beverage and a snack to share, but there's no need to feel obligated to do so. 

This is a great way to get to know and socialize with our neighbors, while generating positive thoughts and ideas on ways we can enhance and improve our neighborhood.

With questions or to RSVP, please call Robert Crum at 704.310.0382.

A NOMA Home Featured in Country Living!

The North Main Neighborhood (NOMA) has the finest collection of historic homes in the North Main Historic District, which runs through the center of the neighborhood along the N. Main Street corridor and one block to the east.  We have a handful, like any neighborhood, of homes for sale here.  But unlike other neighborhoods, one of our homes-for-sale is featured in Country Living Magazine's online edition!

Check out the article, 3 Amazingly Inexpensive Victorian Homes for Sale
here:

http://www.countryliving.com/homes/real-estate/affordable-Victorian-houses-for-sale

We love that they've noted that this pretty, painted lady is move-in ready, so you can relax on the front porch the evening of your closing!  And that the circa 1893 Mary Steele Scales home is located within the boundaries of Salisbury’s North Main Historic District, which means it’s surrounded by more charming old homes.  But we also know that living in NOMA means we are close to EVERYTHING ~ parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries . . . you name it.  We love living here and we love our beautiful homes!

You can read more about the Mary Steele Scales home and some of the other historic homes for sale in the North Main Neighborhood by following these links:

The Mary Steele Scales House, 126 E. Steele Street:

• http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2013/11/your-chance-to-own-1800s-victorian-home.html 
• http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2013/07/the-historic-1893-mary-steele-scales.html
• http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2013/07/antique-vintage-and-historic-home-for.html
• http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/07/beautifully-restored-victorian-home.html

The J.R. Crawford House, 826 N. Main Street:

• http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/07/circa-1900-victorian-pivotal-property.html

The Ramsey-Voss House, 927 N. Main Street:

• http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2013/08/rise-above-it-all-privacy-and-charm-927.html 
• http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/06/1928-craftsman-in-artists-eye-139900-in.html

These, and more, are wonderful opportunities to live in NOMA! Check them out!

Hey Friends & Neighbors!

It looks like NOMA will be ramping up for meeting once again! Stay tuned for meeting dates! The neighborhood is also using a new communication website that seems to be helping us. Go to www.NextDoor.com and look for the NOMA - North Main Neighborhood & sign up!  There is no cost ~ just a user name and password.

We're very excited to get the neighborhood group rekindled!  We look forward to seeing you real soon!
 

Keep North Main Beautiful! Fall Spruce Up is Coming!

Help keep NOMA beautiful! 

Fall Spruce-Up is coming the week of October 20-24th.  It's a perfect opportunity to clean up the neighborhood!

The City will supply us with gloves and garbage bags if anyone would like to form a specific clean-up group for a targeted area. 

Place your 'Spruce-Up' garbage at the curb on the normal trash pick up day.  No construction material is permitted but if you have such to dispose of, please call (704) 638-5260 and they can help you make arrangements for pickup!

Help Address Housing Issues in the North Main Neighborhood! October 16th ~ 4:30 ~ at City Hall!

Be sure to come to this important workshop to address issues for our neighborhood and others!

Share this with your friends and neighbors and put this important workshop on your calendar!

Be sure to RSVP by calling (704) 638-5240.