Historic J.W. Higgs House sold and preserved
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The historic J.W. Higgs House in Greenville is now under new ownership and protected by a permanent preservation easement.
After months of intensive searching and advocacy, Preservation North Carolina’s Eastern Regional Director Maggie Gregg secured new stewards for the property: architect Kathryn Ross, who holds a minor in Historic Preservation, and Matt and Erin Skully, beloved owners of The Scullery restaurant in Greenville.
The landmark Queen Anne Revival residence was located between the East Carolina University campus and ECU Health Medical Center. It was constructed between 1902 and 1905 by Jacob W. Higgs.
Once restored, the Higgs House will host community events, showcase regional art, and operate as a boutique bed and breakfast, creating a vibrant cultural hub in the heart of Greenville.
The house will also be reborn as The Higgs House Inn and Gathering Place, an adaptive reuse that honors the property’s architectural legacy and its colorful past, including its stint in the 1970s as The Gathering Place Restaurant.
In January 2024, the Greenville City Council approved plans to demolish the house. A 365-day demolition delay, issued by the Historic Preservation Commission in March, provided enough time for PNC to locate committed buyers with the resources and vision to rehabilitate the structure.
Through the use of a Preservation Easement, PNC has ensured that the home’s architectural character will be protected in perpetuity.
For more information, contact Preservation NC Regional Director Maggie Gregg at 919-832-3652 ext. 242, or at mgregg@presnc.org.