In 1979, at the behest of then-Attorney General Rufus Edmisten, a modest bill was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly to allow local governments to sell surplus historic properties to nonprofit preservation organizations at a negotiated price. This little bill has had a mighty impact.

Typically, local governments must dispose of publicly owned property through a cumbersome bid process. When historic property is placed on the auction block without protective covenants, it runs the risk of being sold to a buyer who doesn’t respect its value and integrity. If the price goes too high, then demolition may be inevitable.

Preservation North Carolina’s work to save a pair of twin historic houses in Goldsboro led to the legislation. The Weil Houses, a pair of Victorian houses owned by a prominent Jewish family, had been acquired by the county for demolition to make way for parking lots for struggling downtown Goldsboro (as if more parking would save downtown!). Bowing to political pressure from a group of young activists, the county commissioners gave PNC six months to find a buyer for one of the houses, the Henry Weil House. When, to their surprise, we found a buyer, the county commissioners by a 4–3 vote rescinded their agreement to sell.