Demolition Project at 108 W. Steele Street

It is a bittersweet moment for the North Main Neighborhood this week.  The long-sought demolition of the burned and abandoned buildings at the corner of N. Main and W. Steele Streets has begun.

The Miller-Cress House was originally built around 1900 and was originally located on Main Street when the street cars ran down Main from Spencer to the Fulton Heights neighborhood.  In the early 1930s, the owners moved the house back on the property to face W. Steele Street and built a service station for the burgeoning automobile ownership.

The home was originally a single story bungalow and refurbished after the move to a more Victorian style, with an added second story and porch. The garage, built in 1930, was a cute Art-

Deco style with glass embellishment at its roof line, but was labeled an 'intrusion' on the National Registry of Historic Places in the inventory of the North Main district.

A fire in 1998 destroyed much of the office section of the service station.  Before this, the recent owners had a car stereo business here, to the chagrin of the neighborhood.  Neighbors fought long and hard against the volume continually emitted from the building and finally

won with the help of City Code Enforcement and Police.  Most recently, the owners used the bay section for storage, but provided no repairs or maintenance to the structure... and it showed!

The home suffered a massive fire in August 2013.  The owners had moved and the house was left empty.  Here is when the real problems began to occur.

The home and garage buildings have been abandoned since that 2013 fire.  Kids began 'playing' there, breaking every remaining pane of glass with rocks ~ even breaking every window in the two vehicles the owners had left parked there.  Graffiti began to appear on the house.  A person was arrested for attempting to steal items from the burnt wreckage.  Neighbors began a vigilant watch on the property and called both Code Enforcement and the Salisbury City Police Department on nearly a daily basis.

In July, Code Enforcement brought the proposal to demolish the damaged structures before Salisbury's Historic Preservation Commission, a necessary step when property such as this lies in the local historic district!  The HPC held a public forum regarding the demolition on July 10, 2014.  Despite receiving feedback from attending neighbors in favor of the demolition, the HPC voted to stay the demolition* for 65 days, in hopes a buyer would come and rescue the historic home and garage (even though the property was not for sale!).

NOMA representatives spoke at City Council meeting in November, asking for greater attention to the appearance of the North Main central corridor, siting that the Historic Salisbury Foundation is working to save two abandoned structures in the north sector of the neighborhood, but that nothing else is being done.  We asked for the demolition of 108 W. Steele Street to be finalized, expressing that it was a blight to the neighborhood and a safety and crime concern.

Over the past weeks, we watched the asbestos tests performed, utilities such as as gas and electricity disconnected, and finally on January 3rd, after many, many more phone calls to our Code Enforcement officials, the demolition began in earnest.

The gas station is now gone.  The home is scheduled to come down the weekend of the 10th.  We are hoping the contractors are planning a serious grading project as the property has a large elevation change and slopes to a 'bowl' in the back.  We are informed that the retaining wall where the gas station stood will remain in place.

So yes, a bittersweet moment in NOMA history:

Bitter, because we hate to lose any of our beautiful historic homes.  We hate to create 'holes' in our neighborhood.

Sweet, because these buildings had become not only an eyesore, but a safety hazard and magnet for nuisance criminal activity.  We additionally feared that having structure like this standing in our neighborhood for a year and a half forces our property values to drop, at least in the eye of the beholder.

Here's to better days for NOMA in 2015!










The North Main Neighborhood
northmainneighborhood@gmail.com

Public Forum Today! Complete Streets Plan Mirrors Desires for North Main!

The Public Forum for the Complete Streets proposal that would affect major change to another of our downtown Salisbury NC neighborhoods is TODAY:

The Complete Street concept was presented to Salisbury City Council on December 2, 2014. Today, January 6th, City Council will hold a Public Hearing to receive public comment.

Mayor Paul Woodson and City Council member are urging the public to come forward for this important public input opportunity.

You can review the original presentation to City Council member in the video here:



Please consider attending the Complete Streets Public Forum at City Hall on January 6th at 4:00pm and give your input in public comment. 

If you are unable to attend (we know 4:00PM is a tough time slot for many!), please email your comments to mhear@salisburync.gov prior to the hearing. This is an accepted form of public input.  Sometimes Council will read your emailed input aloud during the hearing.

While the changes proposed deal directly with the S. Long Street and Innes Street corridor, the proposed changes mirror nearly exactly the changes the NOMA neighborhood would like to see along the N. Main Street corridor:

• Reduced road widths (a road diet!) and accompanying reduced speeds and traffic calming
• Safe pedestrian crossings
• Support for multi-modal transportation, such as bike lanes and improved sidewalks.
• Attractive streetscape and landscape schemes.

We believe that supporting this change in one of our sister neighborhoods that will be a monumental move by the City, will only make adopting similar changes in the North Main Neighborhood that much more achievable.  The proposed changes are also consistent with the North Main Small Area Improvement Plan that was unanimously approved by City Council in July of 2007, but for which little to no implementation has begun.

It is noteworthy that the North Main Neighborhood is on the 2015 goals and planning for the City's Community Appearance Commission (CAC),  who has already worked to get the 11th & N. Main Street Beautification Project in place.  The CAC, in conjunction with the Historic Salisbury Foundation, is hosting a Volunteer Day on January 24th to plant trees in our new green space at the corner of E. 11th and N. Main Streets.

The Innes/Long Street Corridor Plan link is posted in the following three locations of the city webpage and available as a hard copy for review at the City's One Stop Shop at 132 N. Main Street:

• http://www.salisburync.gov
• http://www.salisburync.gov/Dep.../Engineering/Pages/default.aspx
• http://www.salisburync.gov/.../CommunityPl.../Pages/default.aspx

For more info, you can contact:
Diana Moghrabi / City Planning Office
704-638-5242
dmogh@salisburync.gov


 

The North Main Neighborhood
northmainneighborhood@gmail.com

Salisbury City Council ~ Please Implement Our North Main Improvement Plan!

Hello Friends & Neighbors!

A representative from the NOMA neighborhood attended City Council meeting on December 16th to voice concerns about the appearance and condition of the North Main Street corridor. The North Main Improvement Plan ~ approved unanimously by City Council July 2007 ~ has not yet been implemented.

The North Main Corridor is the last remaining residential corridor into the City, saved from becoming another commercially infested 'Innes Street' by the residents who live there. We are soon to become an even more highly visible corridor, with the upcoming Central School Office coming to North Main, and the highly successful programming at the NC Transportation Museum to the north. At Council's open forum portion of their agenda, our representative said the neighborhood supported reduced lane widths along N. Main Street, implementation of on-street parking, and planted medians along N. Main since that corridor is no longer the bypass for Interstate-85. All these items are per the North Main Improvement plan and are in synchronicity with our residential culture and would enhance the same.

We additionally asked City Council if, in their upcoming planning retreat in February, they would consider how to work with the Housing Advocacy Commission and the Community Appearance Commission to develop stronger ordinances to prevent the Demolition by Neglect we are seeing in NOMA and throughout other areas of the City.

Our representative had asked in an earlier Council open forum for attention and help from City Services with the street weeds growing on Main Street between the curb and the road, citing that residents along N. Main Street (who are normally charged with maintenance of this City-owned extension of their property) cannot be expected to stand in the road along this busy corridor to trim street weeds.

Speed limits are often exceeded along this wide stretch of road, and it would simply put our residents at risk to ask them to perform this maintenance, especially when the City has the tools to provide the service and provides the same in other neighborhoods. 

At the close of that open forum, Mayor Woodson said he agreed that this was endangering our residents and asked Interim-City Manager John Sofley to implement the weed removal.

At the close of the December 16th meeting, Mayor Woodson asked if the previously requested weed removal had been accomplished, we told Council members it had not, and he again requested of Mr. Sofley to please attend to.

We wished Council members a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year ~ and we hope that our concerns do not fall on deaf ears!  Go, NOMA!!

If you would like to see a copy of the North Main Small Area Improvement Plan, please contact City Planning administration:


Diana Moghrabi
Senior Administrative
Specialist Planning, Code Enforcement, Engineering
Office: 704-638-5242
Fax: 704-638-8437
dmogh@salisburync.gov

City of Salisbury
217 South Main St.
Salisbury, NC 28144










NOMA ~ The North Main Neighborhood
northmainneighborhood@gmail.com

Happy New Year ~ Street Cleaning in Process!

Today the City of Salisbury began efforts in earnest to respond to our request to have our granite curbs, gutters, and roadway cleared of street-weeds and trimmed.  

We spotted the curb trimming along North Main Street today, and the street cleaner is in action too!

We requested that City services attend to the street appearance at City Council meeting in November.  We adhere that the North Main Corridor is a very visible gateway into the City of Salisbury and a great opportunity to make a good first impression.  Normally, citizens and residents of Salisbury are expected to maintain their property frontage, even though this is City property.  However, along N. Main Street, where traffic is an issue, we stated that we cannot expect our residents to stand in the road to trim street weeds and knowing that the City has the tools to manage this, we asked if they would please consider helping us out!

Thank you, Mayor Woodson, City Council members, and City Manager John Sofley, for making this happen!  What a nice way to start the new year!





North Main Neighborhood
northmainneighborhood@gmail.com

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.

Saturday ~ November 23rd ~ Bridge Painting!!

The city of Salisbury Street Division and Historic Salisbury Foundation members and volunteers will team up on Saturday, November 23 from 9 a.m. to noon to paint two bridges located in historic districts near downtown.  If you can come help, please do. This might be something children would enjoy....For years to come, every time you cross the bridge, your child would say, "I painted this bridge!"

The Shober Bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 as part of the Ellis Street Graded School Historic District. This has been the location of a bridge since the North Carolina Railroad created the line going west in 1857, and is named for Colonel Francis Shober, a North Carolina congressman in the post-Civil War era. The East Fisher Street Bridge, located in the 200 block, is part of the Brooklyn-South Square Historic District. Both bridges recently underwent extensive repairs. 
 
Each bridge will receive a protective coating of white wood stain on the handrails and posts to help preserve he wood, thereby extending the life of the recent repairs. Documentary photographs from the mid-1900s show that the handrails along the Shober Bridge were once painted white.

Both bridges will be closed to vehicular traffic through 2 p.m. In the event of rain or inclement weather, the project will be postponed until Saturday, Dec. 7.  We'll only be working on the street-level rails. Materials will be provided.

Volunteers are asked to arrive at either bridge and materials will be provided. Those interested in volunteering to assist with this project may call the Street Division at 704-638-5251.

N Main & 11th Street Intersection Improvements ~ Coming Soon!!

A small pilot project has been taking off behind the scenes. Earlier in the year, Sue McHugh, Sean Meyers, Tim & Laurie Klaus, Andrew Waters, and Jenni & Brian Pfaff, met with city staff, Historic Salisbury Foundation director Brian Davis, and representatives from the Community Appearance Commission to kick off a small NOMA Main Street beautification project. Here’s where we stand: 

Lynn Raker, Senior Planner with the City of Salisbury, has been working with other city staff and DOT to get streetscape prep work completed so we can “beautify” our 11th St intersection. Lynn has preliminary approval for 2 raised corner planters on commercial properties south of 11th St. We’re looking into the possibility of taking down the empty building across from the market at 11th street, the old A.T.I.C structure. The quote for the A.T.I.C. demolition is $10,000 including finish grade, seed and straw, and Lynn is working with DOT on replacement of collapsed storm drain at curb line. She has not yet talked with property owner, Mr. Helderman, about his desire to proceed with the demo, but that’s next. Long story short, improvements at this intersection are step-by-step, abut we’re moving forward and Lynn will keep us posted on progress. 

A proposed part of this project was to perhaps paint a house along the N. Main Street corridor. If there are owner-occupied properties on N. Main in need of repair/paint, where owner qualifies as low-moderate income and is willing to sign lien, the Community Development Corp (CDC) has funds to make the repairs. It’s a bid process, so volunteer labor would not be needed unless we just want to participate as community building event. Do you know any likely candidates? 2-3 of these could make a big difference to our Main Street corridor. We were originally looking at only 1-story houses, but we’re now told that a 2-story house is no problem. The CDC can bid out the work as specified, so if painting is to be done by volunteers, that would not be in the bid. 

We’ll need to gather up volunteers to focus on the streetscape work at 11th Street. We don’t have a date yet, but we’ll post as soon as we know!

https://nomanorthmain.nextdoor.com 

themainneighborhood@gmail.com

THIS WEDNESDAY!!! March 13th

Public Kick-Off Meeting for the project to revise and update the Salisbury Historic District Design Guidelines, affecting properties in these local Historic Districts: 

• West Square 
• Brooklyn South Square 
• Ellis Street Graded School 
• North Main (NOMA) 
• Downtown Salisbury

Wednesday, March 13
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Salisbury City Hall
City Council Chamber
217 South Main St.
 
Property owners and residents are invited to participate in discussion about preservation issues and to offer feedback about the design guidelines. The Historic Preservation Commission follows these guidelines when issuing Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior changes to structures and sites located in historic districts.

Please come to this meeting if you can!

Successful 'Urban Forest' Clean~Up Today!!

The North Main Neighborhood hosted a clean~up for our "Urban Forest" at the corner of E. Steele Street and Railroad Street this morning.  Historic Salisbury Foundation, who owns the large wooded lot, petitioned volunteers from all over the community to help us clear this neglected and overgrown lot.  WOW!  Take a drive by and you'll see the difference!!!  

Our neighbors to the north and west may not have realized what a problem this area has been, but there have been homeless folks camping in there, and free enterprise has been thriving in this little hidden forest!  With much of the underbrush removed (we still have a ways to go!), the hiding places are now being eliminated.

Folks gathered at 9am this morning with chain saws, loppers, rakes, and other implements of destruction to take on the brambles, brush, campsites, and garbage that have been accumulating here for years.  The woods is much larger than we originally thought ~ it's about 45,000 square feet or just over an acre. The easiest way to visualize the size of this lot is to picture a standard American football field from sideline to sideline ~ an area of 90.75 yards.  A typical residential lot might measure 0.15 - 0.50 acres.  So you can imagine the breadth of this project!

More volunteers from the Historic Salisbury Foundation are scheduled to return to our 'Urban Forest' this week to do some weed control spraying (sorry purists, but the brambles were FIERCE and they'll be back all to soon without some control!), and to chop some more vines and dead trees.  We will be gathering our own volunteers out there again very soon to try to complete more of the work and make this an attractive part of our neighborhood.  We can't do it without your support!

Speaking of support....can each of you ask your neighbors if they are on this mailing list?  It would be nice to be reaching as many people as we can in our 40 block neighborhood with its over 400 households.  We know we are just reaching the tip of the iceberg and we're confident that many more would love to support this neighborhood if they were just in the communication loop!  Can we get you to forward more neighborhood contacts to us?  THANKS!!!

NOMA Project Dates: March 9th and April 27th!!!

Hello North Main Neighbors & Friends! 

Representatives from the NOMA (The North Main Neighborhood) and the City of Salisbury's Community Appearance Commission met Monday February 18th to discuss possible improvements to the appearance of the North Main Street corridor.  The City has been receiving complaints as to Main Street's appearance, and as North Main Street is the last remaining residential corridor into the City of Salisbury, some attention is kindly being given to help us upgrade this section of our neighborhood.

Proposed were the following improvements:

• A possible improvement to the lot where the old gas station stood at the southeast corner of E. 11th Street and N. Main Street.
• Possible planters at the 4-corners at the intersection of 11th Street and N. Main Street.
• Painting of one home (this home will need to be in reasonable condition, owner-occupied, and a one-story dwelling)

We also discussed cleaning up our "urban forest" at the corner of Railroad Street and E. Steele Street. While not along the N. Main Street corridor, this wooded area is problematic for the neighborhood and its owners, the Historic Salisbury Foundation, have kindly agreed to help clean this area up, clearing the brush away to give us a cleaner and more visible green space.

The success of these projects hinges on our ability to rally volunteers for these projects.  Will each of you please start talking about this to your neighbors and friends?

The clean-up of the Railroad St/Steele St woods is scheduled for Saturday March 9th. Volunteers need only SHOW UP between 9 am and 12 noon, with gloves, sturdy shoes or boots, and if they would like to bring any loppers or other landscape tools, this would be appreciated.  The City and the HSF will provide other heavy-duty brush removal equipment.

We additionally discussed the potential to add some street~scaping to the old Duke Power building in our small commercial section on the bend roughly between 12th and 14th streets.

The plant and/or paint day is tentatively scheduled for April 27th....but please stay tuned for confirmation and more details.

Thank you in advance for helping to support these improvements to our neighborhood!