"The City Council recently approved a Historic Preservation Grant that will allow for a study to be conducted on a section of Randolph Street, between Colonial Drive and Carolina Avenue, as a potential historic district designation.

"I think cities, and Thomasville is no different, have a great interest in preserving our history and our heritage," City Manager Kelly Craver said. "It is a study, a planning grant, to find out whether another section of our downtown area meets the criteria of a historic district. This would be the sign to tell if this would qualify."

The Historic Preservation Commission asked the council for $2,600 in matching funds, since the state would only cover 40 percent of the $6,500 project cost.

The commission submitted the grant application in February and was awarded $3,900 on April 21."

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Greensboro News & Record (7/11/2011)

"Down N.C. 150 in Rockingham County is a 200-year-old house with gold buried in the backyard.

“That’s 'supposedly,’ ” Brianne McAlister, the sales and marketing director of High Rock Farm homestead, says with a twinkle in her eye.

If so, it hasn’t been found on the grounds of the Federal-styled house — built circa 1808 by Joseph McCain, the great-great-great grandfather of U.S. Sen. John McCain.

The McCain house, which doubled as a tavern, sat along a major stagecoach trail between Washington, D.C., and Georgia and a stone’s throw from skirmishes leading up to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

The Greensboro area is full of houses connected to American history, although years later, they sit without much fanfare in neighborhoods or along quiet country roads.

“If the walls could talk we’d know this wonderful history that’s mostly been lost,” said Rockingham County historian Bob Carter."

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Greensboro News & Record (7/10/2011)

"The two buildings went up in the 1920s - a new Gastonia hospital and a state-of-the-art apartment complex.

Time took its toll and the buildings became empty, decaying sentinels.

But a partnership between Gastonia, the buildings' owners, Preservation North Carolina, a Winston-Salem developer and Gaston County is about to transform the two properties.

The city recently announced the latest piece of financing for the project is in place. The N.C. Finance Agency has approved low-income tax credits to help developer The Landmark Group renovate an historic hospital building on North Highland Street.

The Highland Memorial Apartment complex will offer 75 affordable apartments for seniors and persons with disabilities.

In a separate project, the Armstrong Arms Apartment project will create 18 affordable, market-rate, townhome-style apartments in the former Armstrong/Marietta apartment building on the corner of Marietta and Second streets."

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Charlotte Observer (7/10/2011) 

"Repairs to part of Liberty Warehouse have been completed, the first step toward removal of some of the condemnation signs on the historic building, city officials said Wednesday.

Repairs at 613 Rigsbee Ave., the northern portion of the former tobacco warehouse, have been completed and are awaiting a final inspection from the city. After the Inspections Department makes its final approval, Greenfire Development, which owns the warehouse and rented space to artists and retailers, will be able to remove the condemnation signs on that part of the building, said Rick Hester, assistant director of Neighborhood Improvement Services."

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The Herald-Sun (8/25/2011)

"Historic Charlotte is seeking nominations for its 11th Annual Historic Preservation Awards for greater Mecklenburg County. Each year, Historic Charlotte recognizes five of the most innovative historic preservation projects in the Charlotte region; from beautifully adapted and restored public, commercial and residential buildings -- to historically sensitive commercial and residential infill projects. [Historic Charlotte] also recognizes overall preservation excellence by a group or on an individual project.

Winners will be honored at Historic Charlotte’s annual preservation celebration, Blast for the Past, on October 12th, 2011 at the North Carolina Dance Theatre.  Food, music and a silent auction will set the stage for the 2011 Historic Charlotte Preservation Awards.  Tickets may be ordered by calling Historic Charlotte, Inc. at 704-375-2425 or online at www.HistoricCharlotte.org after September 1, 2011.

Nominated projects must have been completed within the last three years on a 50+ year old structure in greater Mecklenburg County. Projects must exemplify aspects of effective preservation, historic renovation, adaptive reuse and/or new infill construction or neighborhood planning within a historic context.

There are five award categories:  Preservation Residential, Preservation Commercial, Infill Residential, Infill Commercial, and Preservation Excellence. The Preservation Excellence award is given to a person or group that exemplifies excellence in preservation in Mecklenburg County.  

Winners from 2010 include Preservation Excellence: Wilmore Neighborhood Association; Preservation Residential:  Thomas-Funderburk House and the Doyle Residence. Preservation Commercial: The Carnegie Library on the Johnson C. Smith Campus, and interior renovations to the Charlotte Old City Hall. A special Honorary mention went to the Villalonga-Alexander House.  For more details about past winners visit Historic Charlotte’s website at www.HistoricCharlotte.org. 

The three-step Preservation Award application includes:

Step One:  Email Julie Smith, Preservation Planner at Historic Charlotte at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and request a Blast for the Past Preservation Awards nomination form.  Return the completed form to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or fax it to Historic Charlotte at 704-375-6152. 

Step Two:  After project verification, a PowerPoint template will be emailed to you and/or your firm.  Please add information and pictures about your preservation project to the pre-designed template.  Instructions for submitting the completed template will be included.  The entry deadline for all submissions is September 1, 2011.

Step Three:  A team of five independent judges will review all submissions in September and vote on this year’s Historic Preservation Awards.  Winners will be notified upon completion of the judging."

The mission of Historic Charlotte, Inc. is to promote historic preservation in the greater Charlotte region.  Historic Charlotte, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1991.