Demolition of the G. Ernest Moore House: the beginning of the end of Historic Oakwood?

by Matthew Brown

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May is National Preservation Month, a time to celebrate and advocate for the places that tell Raleigh’s story. As part of this effort, Preservation Raleigh is highlighting significant locations facing threats through our 2025 Places in Peril (PIP) initiative.

This article focuses on the G. Ernest Moore House, the fifth site featured in our 2025 series. Located at 311 E. Edenton Street in the Oakwood Historic District, this house is a fine example of the Neoclassical Revival style of architecture, but is under contract to a developer who intends to demolish it and the historic house next to it, and replace them with a townhouse development.

Why It Matters: History and Significance

This Neoclassical Revival two-story house, built around 1925, holds significant historical value, initially serving as the residence for George Ernest Moore, owner of the Wake Feed Company. His first wife, Evelyn, died in childbirth in 1929. He remarried when he was 56, and his second wife Pearl Lee Moore worked for the Commissioner of Insurance and was also president of the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs. (In 1956, Pearl contributed to the book “North Carolina Musicians: A Selective Handbook” which can still be purchased online.)

Ernest did not have children, and in the 1950 census records we can see that the Moores had several lodgers living with them at 311 E. Edenton.

George Ernest Moore died on November 21, 1980, at the age of 93, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery,

Like many homes in the Oakwood neighborhood, the home was constructed for a member of the middle class, yet it distinguishes itself through its especially fine design and craftsmanship. The Moores lived here until 1966, and their family owned the property until 1984, when it was sold to the N.C. School Boards Association to serve as an office. A large addition was built on the rear in 1991 by the School Boards Association. The house later served as a law office, until it was vacated in 2023. The house is a contributing structure to the Oakwood Historic District.

Timeline from the NC School Board Association

Architectural / Physical Description

This Neoclassical Revival (also described as Colonial Revival) house is veneered in brick and features a hipped roof sheathed in slate shingles, along with a matching hipped-roofed dormer on the front containing two six-pane attic windows. There is a shallow hipped-roofed projection on the right side of the house. The hipped-roofed front porch wraps around the right side to meet the projection. It is supported by nine Tuscan columns with a square-section balustrade. The side portion of this porch was enclosed after 1950. The front door features especially fine leaded beveled glass, as do its sidelights. In the center of the left side of the house is a porte cochere also supported by Tuscan columns. Most windows are eight-over-one or six-over-one and have stone sills. The chimney has a corbeled top with dentil ornament under the corbeling. There was originally a one-story ell in the rear. It has been subsumed into a large hipped-roofed rear addition which extends further west than the main house.

A stone retaining wall, likely built soon after the house, is present at the front of the property. The interior of the house is well-preserved and retains its original features. The house is situated near the western edge of the Oakwood Historic District, on a block predominantly comprised of preserved houses, with the exception of a historic gas station, now a restaurant (Gringo), to its west.

The front door and sidelights feature beautiful leaded beveled glass.

The Threat: Why Is It a Place in Peril?

The house is currently vacant but remains in good condition. However, the owners have placed the house under contract to Copper Builders, who plan to demolish it, along with the adjacent house at 325 E. Edenton, to construct a new townhouse development.

A significant threat lies in the houses’ location within the Oakwood historic overlay district. While this status can delay demolition for 365 days, it cannot prevent it entirely. The houses face demolition if either the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission approves a townhouse development on the lots or if the Raleigh City Council removes the properties from the Oakwood historic overlay district—a concerning precedent, as the Council has done so for properties in other historic overlay districts in recent years.

The consequences of this loss are significant. Demolishing this house would mean losing a particularly fine piece of architecture and would severely damage the character of the entire block. More importantly, it would set a precedent that could doom many other houses in Oakwood and other historic districts. If the City allows this historic house, despite being in a historic overlay district, to be replaced by a townhouse development, it would signal that all historic structures in Raleigh are vulnerable to similar redevelopment, even those within protected historic overlay districts.

Preserving the Moore House: A Viable Future

This house is currently in good condition and is highly marketable as offices, a single residence, or multiple residences. The rear addition could be replaced by a larger addition, and/or an accessory dwelling could be added behind the house. The western part of the lot could be combined with the lot at 307 E. Edenton to build another building.

We encourage the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission to not approve a townhouse development here, as it would violate its guidelines. If the developer applies to remove the properties from the Historic Overlay District, we ask the City Council to deny the application. The house is highly marketable as it is.

Call to Action

The G. Ernest Moore House is a valuable contributing structure to the Oakwood Historic Overlay District. Allowing its demolition and replacement with a townhouse development would not only mean the loss of a fine piece of architecture and history, but also set a precedent that could endanger Oakwood and Raleigh’s other historic districts.

So, how can people help? When the developer appears before the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission to request approval for the townhouse development, it’s crucial for the community to attend the meeting. Your presence will help encourage Commissioners to deny the application. Then, when the developer requests to remove the properties from the Historic Overlay District, contact the City Council and urge them to deny this request. It’s also important to attend the Council meeting where the case is heard, ideally with signs that say something like “Save Historic Oakwood” or “Save our HODs” to make your voices heard.

Preservation Raleigh will publicize these meetings and opportunities for public involvement.

Resources:

The Drew House: A Vision of Mid-Century Modern Living

researched by George Smart, Nick Fountain and Dana Deaton

May is National Preservation Month, a time to celebrate and advocate for the places that tell Raleigh’s story. As part of this effort, Preservation Raleigh is highlighting culturally and architecturally significant locations facing threats through our 2025 Places in Peril (PIP) initiative.

This article focuses on The Drew-Sanderson-Glazener House, also known as The Better Homes and Gardens House. This fourth site in our 2025 series currently faces imminent demolition.

The home, located at 511 Transylvania Avenue, stands as a quintessential example of Mid-Century Modern architecture. This enduring style, popular from the mid-1940s to the late 1960s, is defined by its clean lines, organic and geometric forms, and a strong emphasis on seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. The single-story home’s story begins in 1953 with its feature as a “Five Star Home No. 2309” in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, a design that would go on to join the residential landscape of Raleigh’s Country Club Hills neighborhood.

  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953 Cover
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309
  • Better Homes & Gardens, Sept. 1953- Five Star Home No. 2309

Why It Matters: A Legacy of Mid-Century Modern Design

This intriguing story begins in 1953 with a feature in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. The September 1953 issue devoted approximately 13 pages to unveiling this home design, the culmination of nearly a year spent surveying families nationwide about their desires for a new home. Architects Brooks Buderus and Gerald Siegwart incorporated these findings into a cohesive plan. This design, specifically identified as “Five Star Home No. 2309,” was part of a national initiative where 40 builders across the country constructed these homes for National Home Month.

One of the participating developers was Ed Richards, a key figure in promoting mid-century modern homes in Raleigh, particularly within the Country Club Hills neighborhood. Richards, who would later shape significant developments like North Hills Estates and North Ridge, recognized the innovative modern design of the “Five Star Home No. 2309.” He worked with builder Thomas Wilson to construct the house, with slight modifications, in Country Club Hills, already having planned for its construction in Raleigh when the magazine was published.

This period in the 1950s was a vibrant time for modern architecture in Raleigh, significantly influenced by the NCSU School of Design, which opened in 1948. Its influential founding faculty were encouraged to create new designs, serving as both educators and innovators. This environment helped Raleigh gain a national reputation as a hub for modern design. The Better Homes and Gardens “Five Star Home” series, promoting accessible and contemporary designs, perfectly aligned with this progressive architectural landscape. The Country Club Hills neighborhood, with its spacious lots and suburban feel, quickly became a prime location for these innovative homes.

The house was sold to Newton Homes in late 1953, then to Thomas Floyd Drew and Katherine Conn Drew in 1954. Over the years, it has been owned by several notable Raleigh figures. In 1967, it was sold to Nan Russell Sanderson and Jesse O. Sanderson; Jesse Sanderson, a member of the Raleigh City Council, is the educator for whom Sanderson High School is named. The house was sold in 1985 to Salah and Amina Elmaghraby. In 1994, landscape architects Dennis and Sharon Bell Glazener, part of the family of famed landscape architect Dick Bell, acquired the home, adding a pool and enclosing the carport for an office. In 2012, Marjorie F. Smith purchased the home, and her son oversaw a renovation that included filling in the pool and reopening the carport.

Pool installed, circa 1996

The Drew House also boasts significant renovation work in the late 1980s by brothers Jim and John Webb. Both distinguished architects, Jim Webb had a long career including teaching at UNC-Chapel Hill’s City and Regional Planning School and co-founding City Planning and Architecture Associates (CPAA). John Bruce Webb (1910-1997) was a brilliant designer who worked for prominent firms like Albert Kahn and John Carl Warnecke, famously serving as the project architect for President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite. The involvement of these influential architects in the Drew House’s renovation underscores its importance within the broader context of mid-century modern design and the architectural practices of the Triangle region.

This home is a tangible link to the “Greatest Generation” who returned from WWII and shaped the city we cherish today. Its design embodies the optimism and innovation of the post-war era. Raleigh’s standing as the Number Three City in the Nation for mid-century modern design, behind only Chicago and Los Angeles, underscores the importance of preserving homes like this.

511 Transylvania Ave, Photo from NC Modernist, circa 2000

Architectural / Physical Description

This single-story house is a quintessential example of Mid-Century Modern architecture, a style prevalent from the mid-1940s to the late 1960s. It’s characterized by its clean lines, organic and geometric forms, and a strong emphasis on integrating the indoors with the outdoors.

As noted in the original Better Homes and Gardens article, “Outstanding features are many, but the one you’re apt to spot first is the remarkable way that living, service, sleeping areas are set apart in this one-floor plan. The separation was handled with something of a bow to the past. Architects took what one usually finds on the top floor of a two-story house—bedrooms, bathrooms, dressing areas—and keeping them as just one unit, brought these activities down to the ground level.” This innovative approach results in the house’s distinctive “H” shape, which extends deep into the lot, maximizing privacy from the street while enhancing its connection to the surrounding landscape.

The article continued to describe the home as a progressive house brimming with Mid-Century Modern design. With the unusual H-plan, a “terrace room” (family/dining room) separated the bedroom wing from the rest of the house. The glass wall in the living room provided a view of a small garden. A generously sized terrace included a gravel area for playground equipment, sandbox, built-in bench, and barbeque pit.

Redwood beams and windows of varying types (awning, clerestory, transom) provided a rectangularity to the space. Wall surfaces included cypress paneling, a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace, and perforated hardboard painted in yellow. Furniture had a minimal and slim design to lighten the modestly-sized rooms.

Storage cabinets with sliding doors in an alternating white and yellow pattern were in a U-shaped kitchen with its bright blue backsplash. The breakfast bar also functioned as a pass-through serving counter to the dining room if the sliding glass doors were opened. Children had their own indoor play area that could be closed off from their sleeping quarters by wooden traverse dividers.

Drew House Front door, May 2025

Key features include a distinctive butterfly roof, a signature element of mid-century modern design where two opposing roof slopes meet in the middle. The house also boasts an interior courtyard, which has historically featured a pool and landscaped gardens, seamlessly blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living. The design prioritizes openness and a vibrant interior reminiscent of the 1950s. Notably, the southwest (front) corner of the house rests on a massive boulder, further integrating the structure with its natural site.

The house’s setting within the Country Club Hills neighborhood reinforces its significance. While the neighborhood retains many of its original characteristics, the growing trend of teardowns for new development poses a threat to the neighborhood’s unique architectural cohesion.

The Threat: Why It’s a Place in Peril

The Drew House faces an urgent threat. In May 2024, the property was sold to Speight Built LLC, and then again in April 2025 to Molly and Thomas Glasgow. The specific threat is the imminent demolition of this architecturally significant home.

The loss of this house would be profound. It represents a unique architectural example and a tangible link to Raleigh’s design history. The ongoing trend of replacing historically significant homes with architecturally uninspired new construction erodes the city’s distinct character and heritage.

511 Transylvania Ave, Photo from NC Modernist, circa 2014

The Opportunity: A Path Forward

Despite the immediate threat, there’s always an opportunity to advocate for preservation. Raising public awareness and exploring alternative options, such as finding a sympathetic buyer who values its architectural integrity, could potentially save the house. Currently, the Drew-Sanderson-Glazener House lacks specific historic protections like local landmark designation or historic district zoning, making it vulnerable to demolition.

Urgent steps for preservation include:

  • Identifying and preserving this house and all other remaining mid-century modern homes in the arc between Meredith College and North Hills.
  • Encouraging current owners to place a preservation easement upon rare and special properties before they are lost.
  • Educating the public and local decision-makers on the necessity to save the designs and places connected to the “Greatest Generation” and Raleigh’s unique architectural heritage.

Call to Action

The Drew-Sanderson-Glazener House is a crucial piece of Raleigh’s mid-century modern heritage, and its future hangs in the balance. Inaction could lead to the irreversible loss of this unique home.

How Can People Help?

  • Educate yourself and your friends about Raleigh’s fast-disappearing reputation as a national leader in mid-century modern design.
  • Contact Preservation Raleigh, Preservation NC, or NC Modernist for information on the simplicity of placing a preservation easement on rare and special properties and the urgency of this need.
  • Support Preservation Raleigh’s advocacy efforts by becoming a member or donating.
511 Transylvania Ave., May 2025

Sources:

Resources:

  • Preservation NC: https://www.presnc.org/
  • NCSU School of Design History: Information about the School of Design’s founding and its impact on Raleigh’s architectural landscape can be found on the university’s official website or through academic publications on architectural history.

The William Harvey and Effie Lytle House: African American History in Peril

by Chris Crew and Ian F.G. Dunn

During Preservation Month, Preservation Raleigh is highlighting locations facing threats through our Places in Peril (PIP) series. This article focuses on The William Harvey and Effie Lytle House. Located at 519 S. Blount St, this historic home holds significant links to prominent African American figures and Raleigh’s Civil Rights movement but currently faces threats from recent tax revaluation and potential incompatible development.

History and Significance

The parcel at 519 South Blount was purchased by William Harvey and Effie Lytle in 1908. The house was completed either late 1908 or early 1909.

St. Agnes School of Nursing graduates. Photo from: https://abc11.com/st-agnes-hospital-saint-augustines-university/5103131/

Effie C. Wortham Lytle was born around 1869 in Raleigh to Samuel and Annie Wortham. She was one of the first two African American nurses to be educated in North Carolina, she was in first class at SAHSON and graduated in 1898. She worked as a private duty nurse in Raleigh until she married William H. Lytle on 12-12-1905. Effie was a nursing school graduate of Hampton Institute (now University) an HBCU. She was one of the first 2 African American nursing graduates in NC from St. Agnes Hospital School of Nursing in 1898 under Dr. Hubert Royster.

William was a baker and their son, William Winslow Lytle, attended the Shaw University school of dentistry, but died in 1914 at the age of 24 from tuberculosis. William Harvey died in 1925 and his wife Effie continued to live in the house until she moved to live with her daughter Corrine in Philadelphia in 1947.

Effie Lytle’s heirs sold the property to Charles Garfield Irving, Sr. Irving was a civil rights leader, founder of the Raleigh NAACP, newspaperman and co-founder of Irving-Swain Press. Charles Sr. worked at The Carolinian, an African American Bi-weekly newspaper founded in 1940 and still in circulation. Irving rented out the house for decades. The house was the office of The Carolinian for some time.

Former Raleigh mayoral candidate Charles T. Francis is the grandson of Charles G. Irving Sr.. The house is currently owned by the heirs of Charles G. Irving, Jr..

Photo from the Wake County Real Estate site, February 2013. Signage for The Carolinian is on the front porch.

For a time starting in 1954 the property was associated with Raleigh’s second black attorney, Fred J. Carnage. He was instrumental in the development of the John Chavis Memorial Park; in 1949, he became the first black person to serve on the Raleigh School Board, and the second black person to serve on a local school board anywhere in NC. In 1965, the Raleigh School Board named a new Southeast Raleigh Junior High School in his honor.

The value of the property lies in its location within the Prince Hall Historic District, the first HOD in Raleigh recognizing the contributions of African Americans to the city’s history and culture, its subtle vernacular charm, and its links to Raleigh’s role in the Civil Rights movement and African American culture in general.

519 S. Blount Street, May 2025. Photo by Ian F.G. Dunn

Architectural / Physical Description

This two story side hall with Queen Ann ornamentation was built ca 1909. Currently it is a 5.5 bathroom, multi family home with 1816 square feet of living area. Located at 519 S. Blount St, it sits on a small lot (roughly 11,000 sf) within the Prince Hall Historic District.

The Threat: Why Is It a Place in Peril?

In addition to absentee ownership and vacant status, a principle threat to this otherwise charming house is the recent tax revaluation that places the value of the small lot (roughly 11, 000 sf) at $1.8 million. The value of the lot, and a recent Raleigh City Council decision to honor a request by a speculative property owner to remove a nearby lot from the Prince Hall Historic Overlay district to allow development not deemed compatible with the character of the district sets a dangerous course for the future of the structure and the Historic District Designation.

The Opportunity: Potential positive outcomes

The opportunity lies in preventing the loss of this historic resource. Finding a preservation-minded steward who understands its historical context and is committed to its rehabilitation is crucial. The property currently has limited protection offered by its Historic Overlay Zoning designation in the Prince Hall District. However, the threat includes the potential for a zoning change request to remove this designation. Protecting the property from such a zoning change request is paramount. Raising awareness about the house’s significance and the threat it faces is necessary to encourage a preservation-oriented outcome.

Call to Action 

Should this property change hands and become subject to a zoning change request removing the limited protection offered by its Historic Overlay Zoning designation in the Prince Hall District another loose thread in Raleigh’s historic fabric could be pulled, leading to the unraveling of decades of preservation work. The loss of this historic structure could further erase another of the few remaining links to Raleigh’s vibrant late 19th and early 20th African American Community and its part in the Civil Rights movement.

How Can People Help?

  • Share this story to raise awareness about the significance of this house and the threats facing it and the Prince Hall Historic District.
  • Stay informed about any potential zoning change requests regarding this property or others within the Prince Hall Historic District.
  • Support Preservation Raleigh’s advocacy efforts for historic places like the Lytle House
  • If you have information or resources that could help preserve this property, contact Preservation Raleigh at info@preservationraleigh.org.

Conclusion

The potential loss of this historic structure could further erase another of the few remaining links to Raleigh’s vibrant late 19th and early 20th African American Community and its part in the Civil Rights movement. Preservation of the William Harvey and Effie Lytle House is essential to maintaining the integrity of the Prince Hall Historic District and honoring the significant contributions of the Black citizens associated with this place. Its future depends on recognizing its value and actively working to protect it from incompatible development pressures.

Sources:

Resources:
https://hbcudigitallibrary.auctr.edu/digital/collection/stad/id/124/rec/28

https://caro.news/

https://kids.kiddle.co/St.Agnes_Hospital(Raleigh,_North_Carolina)

519 S. Blount, December 2005. Photo from the Wake County Real Estate site

The P. Edgar Furr House: A Story of Neglect and Indifference. 

by Ian F.G. Dunn, Preservation Raleigh Board Member

Introduction

May is National Preservation Month, a time to celebrate and advocate for the places that tell Raleigh’s story. As part of this effort, Preservation Raleigh is highlighting eight significant locations facing threats through our 2025 Places in Peril (PIP) initiative.

P. Edgar Furr House. From the General Negative Collection, State Archives of NC.

This article focuses on the P. Edgar Furr House, the second site featured in our 2025 series. Located at 803 Glenwood Avenue, this historic home was once a showpiece of the Glenwood-Brooklyn Historic District. Now, after decades of neglect, the house faces almost certain destruction. 

Why It Matters: History and Significance

This modest one-story Queen Anne was constructed in 1913 for Perle Edgar Furr and Pattie Furr in the burgeoning Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood. Perle was a long-time conductor for Norfolk Southern Railroad. He and Pattie raised their two daughters, Eloise and Dorothy in the house before moving to Richmond in 1925.

That same year, the house passed to Archie Hamilton Geiger and Margaret Dixon Geiger. Archie was a foreman for Norfolk Southern. In 1945, Archie and Margaret’s daughter, Julia, married Rev. Joseph K. Bostick, Sr. Their son, Joseph K. Jr., later inherited the house in 1980. He retained ownership until 2022 when the property passed to a real estate developer who planned to rehabilitate the house and construct a three-story rear addition. 

P. Edgar Furr House as it appeared in 1976. From the General Negative Collection, State Archives of NC.

Since this home is in an Historic Overlay District, alterations are regulated by the Raleigh Historic Development Commission. The new owner’s plans for a three-story addition came before the Commission’s Certificate of Appropriateness Committee, but the case was deferred for revision. 

Instead of revising the plans to meet the guidelines, the new owner decided to apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness to raze the parcel and subsequently placed it on the market. The Raleigh Historic Development Commission cannot deny a request to demolish an historic property, but they can impose a 365-day delay–which they did. 

The present owners purchased the property in November of 2024 with the intention of constructing new housing. The 365-day delay expires in September of this year. 

P. Edgar Furr House as it appeared in 2021. Photo by Ian Dunn. 
P. Edgar Furr House as it appeared in 2021. Photo by Ian Dunn. 

Call to Action

The Perle E. Furr House is an integral part of one of Raleigh’s earliest working-class neighborhoods and faces almost certain demolition. Its future hangs in the balance, and inaction could lead to the irreversible loss of this piece of Raleigh’s heritage.

We encourage you to share this story to raise awareness and perhaps persuade the current owners to either sell the property to a preservation-minded party or restore it to its former glory. 

Sun sets at the Furr House, May 2025. Photo by Griffin Lee
Sun sets at the Furr House, May 2025. Current photos of front and back of house by Griffin Lee

Resources:

Historic St. Augustine’s University Needs Community Support

by Ruth Little, Preservation Raleigh Board Member

May is National Preservation Month, a time to celebrate and advocate for the places that tell Raleigh’s story. As part of this effort, Preservation Raleigh is highlighting eight significant locations facing threats through our 2025 Places in Peril (PIP) initiative.

This article focuses on St. Augustine’s University, the first site featured in our 2025 series. Located at 1315 Oakwood Avenue, the 20-acre campus core includes over a dozen well-preserved and architecturally significant buildings dating from 1895 to 1971. St. Aug’s holds key significance as one of North Carolina’s oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities, but currently faces serious development pressure because of ongoing financial difficulties and accreditation issues.

Why It Matters: History and Significance 

Benson Library (Taylor Hall), dedicated in 1898. Photo from Mary Benson collection, https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/244043

St. Augustine’s University played a vital role in the education and advancement of Black individuals in North Carolina and beyond, especially during a time of significant racial discrimination. It provided crucial opportunities for higher education, leadership development, and served as a cultural hub for the Black community in East Raleigh.

Located at 1315 Oakwood Avenue in downtown Raleigh, the St. Augustine’s University campus, established in 1867, holds key significance as one of North Carolina’s oldest Historic Black Colleges and Universities. The 20-acre campus, including over a dozen well-preserved and architecturally significant buildings dating from 1895 to 1971, faces neglect and development pressure because of ongoing financial difficulties and accreditation issues.

Established by the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1867 to train black teachers and ministers, the school was led in the late 1800s and early 1900s by Bishop Henry Delany, the first black man to become an Episcopal bishop in North Carolina. 

An interesting historical aside on Bishop Delany: his daughters Sadie and Bessie grew up on the St. Augustine’s campus. As adults, they moved to Harlem in New York City and had distinguished careers, one as a high school teacher, the other a dentist. They inspired a best-selling biography, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years, edited by Amy Hill Hearth, 1993.

From the 1925 Annual Catalogue of Saint Augustine’s College. NC Yearbooks Digital Collection https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/32330

Architecture and Landscape of St. Augustine’s Campus

The earliest surviving buildings– St. Augustine’s Chapel, 1896, a striking stone Gothic gabled and towered landmark; the Romanesque Revival stone Benson Library of 1898; and the large stone St. Agnes Hospital,1909–are located at the front of the campus along Oakwood Avenue. The hospital is a picturesque ruin.

Taylor Hall, wellness center, St. Augustine’s University. Photo by Ruth Little, 2025

The rest of the campus buildings are arranged around The Main Quadrangle (Oval) of 1964, which organizes the campus into an elegant ensemble. The well-maintained grassy quad includes plots in the northern section devoted to Black Greek Letter Organizations, a traditional feature on HCBU campuses.

The Oval, section devoted to Black Greek Letter Organizations. Penick Science Hall in
background. Photo by Ruth Little, 2025

A notable later historic building, Penick Science Hall, 1930, has red brick walls and a stylish Moderne entrance. A group of 1960s and 1970s Modernist buildings of brick and reinforced concrete include the Boyer Building, Robinson Library, Martin Luther King Union, and Jones Fine Arts Building, most designed by local architects.

The main 20-acre campus is a National Register Historic District, listed in 1980 and updated in 2019. The district holds significance under the themes of education, Black ethnic heritage, architecture, and landscape. Its period of historic significance extends from 1895 to 1971. The institution’s most important leaders include Bishop Henry Beard Delany (1885-1908), Edgar H. Goold (1917-1946), Dr. James A. Boyer (1954- 1966), and Prezell Robinson (1967-1995).

An 1947 aerial photo of the campus of St. Augustine’s College, looking southwest toward downtown Raleigh. Albert Barden Collection State Archives of North Carolina
Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article297760738.html#storylink=cpy

The main campus is quite distinct from the residential and commercial areas around it in east Raleigh. From its late 1800s stone buildings reflecting its Episcopal roots to the mid-1900s Modernist library, administrative center, and dormitories, the enclave possesses a tranquil and rarified academic atmosphere. The north half of the 94-acre of the campus includes more recent facilities and athletic fields.

The Threat: Why Is It a Place in Peril? 

Taylor Hall, view from east side. Photo by Ruth Little, 2025

St. Augustine’s University is currently navigating significant financial and accreditation challenges and institutional upheaval. As a result, several of its historic buildings are suffering from deferred maintenance, even as the university remains open and accredited during arbitration with unchanged ownership. The primary threat to this historic campus is the instability of the institution and potential development pressure on its valuable land. Ultimately, the disappearance of St. Augustine’s University would represent the loss of a venerable educational institution in North Carolina. The deterioration of its historic buildings would threaten the legacy of Black education in North Carolina and its unique architecture and landscape design.  

Potential for Preservation?

The 20-acre core campus is listed as a National Register Historic District, which offers some recognition but may not prevent demolition or significant alterations without federal involvement. Exploring new uses for some of the under-used buildings that align with the university’s mission or serve the broader community could offer a path forward. 

Preservation requires a multi-faceted approach, including addressing the university’s financial and accreditation challenges, securing funding for necessary repairs and maintenance, raising community awareness and support, and potentially exploring partnerships or grants focused on historic preservation.

St. Augustine’s Chapel. Photo by Ruth Little, 2025

Call to Action 

St. Augustine’s University campus represents one of North Carolina’s oldest Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs) and has been a Black cultural center in East Raleigh since the late 1800s. Its future hangs in the balance, and inaction could lead to the irreversible loss of this vital piece of Raleigh’s heritage. 

How Can People Help?

Learn more by following local news to stay updated on the university’s progress. Share this story to raise awareness about the importance of preserving this historic institution. Advocate for the institution and its buildings by expressing your support to local leaders and the university administration. Support St. Augustine’s University through donations or by engaging with their ongoing initiatives. 

If you have resources or expertise that could assist the university in its preservation efforts, consider reaching out to them directly. 

Recent news and resources:

Article Sources

  • Perplexity AI search, Apr. 30, 2025
  • ABC News
  • Spectrum Local News
  • Mary Ruffin Hanbury, North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office St. Augustine’s College Campus Historic District, Additional Documentation, 2021. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/WA0138AD.pdf
St. Agnes Hospital,1909. Photo Photo by Ruth Little, 2025

Preservation Month in Raleigh: Highlighting Our Places in Peril


Every year in May, local preservation groups, state historical societies, and business and civic organizations across the country celebrate Preservation Month through events that promote historic places and heritage tourism, and that demonstrate the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.

Preservation Month began as National Preservation Week in 1973. In 2005, the National Trust extended the celebration to the entire month of May and declared it Preservation Month to provide an even greater opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states. This May, for Preservation Month, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is celebrating the power of place—and the countless ways, big and small, that preservation creates. This work strengthens communities, breathes new life into neighborhoods, supports a healthier planet, and builds a more just and connected society.

Preservation Raleigh is proud to promote this important month through an educational awareness program debuted last year called Places In Peril. Our mission is to Ensure Raleigh’s Architectural Inheritance for Everyone’s Benefit and the best way to do so is to showcase significant buildings that are currently in danger. Preservation Raleigh created the Places in Peril program to identify and preserve local historic sites by calling public attention to a select number of Raleigh’s threatened historic and archaeological sites. The list raises awareness by highlighting their plight through local publicity, thus striving to become a catalyst for preservation.

In 2024, we highlighted eight Raleigh places and have continued to advocate for them. This May we are featuring seven new Places in Peril. You are invited to learn more about these significant buildings and their history as we showcase them each week. Learn about our city’s history and how you can be part of a growing community of concerned citizens committed to supporting the mission of Preservation Raleigh.


For more information about Preservation Month 2025 visit
https://savingplaces.org/stories/preservation-month-2025



Places in Peril: Revisiting places from 2024

May is just around the corner, bringing Preservation Month and this year’s theme, “Power of Place,” which highlights how preservation enriches our communities. Building on the response to our inaugural “Places in Peril” (PIP) initiative launched in 2024, Preservation Raleigh is expanding our efforts for 2025.

Earlier this month, we asked for your help identifying endangered historic properties, and we thank everyone who submitted a nomination for our 2025 PIPs.
April has also been a time for sharing updates on our original 2024 PIPs across our social media channels. Read below for those updates, or visit our Facebook or Instagram pages.

Now, based on your submissions, we’ve curated a list of eight new Places in Peril for 2025. Throughout the upcoming month of May, we’ll feature these newly identified sites on our blog and social media. This brings our total focus to sixteen important and endangered Raleigh properties this year.

PIP Updates, April 2025:


The Brimley-Upchurch House, 313 East Cabarrus Street

Why it made the 2024 list: For many years, the house has been vacant and deteriorating, and was lacking plans for preservation. Learn more about this house in our original article: https://preservationraleigh.org/…/05/16/312-east-cabarrus/

Update (April 2025): Promising news for the Brimley-Upchurch House. In March of this year, Steel Projects purchased the house with plans for a full rehabilitation! Steele Projects Company has restored numerous structures in the area including First Vanguard Presbyterian Church and the Charles A. Haywood House. We hope to see work begin in the next several months.

Char-Grill and Elmwood

Why they made the 2024 list: These two adjacent landmarks, the iconic “Googie” style Char-Grill and the historic antebellum Elmwood house, were designated ‘in peril’ due to significant development pressure. The parcels they occupy have been rezoned for a 20-story tower, threatening the existence of the Char-Grill in its current form and requiring the relocation of the Elmwood house. Original article: https://preservationraleigh.org/…/10/chargrillelmwoodpip/

Update (April 2025): Here’s the latest on Char-Grill and Elmwood:

CHAR-GRILL

The Char-Grill, a 1960’s style fast-food take-out restaurant, is for sale again with Trademark Properties after developer Wilson/Blount, under contract to buy the parcel, backed out because of rising interest rates.

“Googie” is the style of Postwar Optimism, with its Futuristic, space-age look, loud signs, and dramatic rooflines to grab the attention of people driving by. The development was marketed as “one of the last remaining development opportunities in Glenwood South.” The 20-story tower zoning allows 507 residential units, 65,000 square feet of retail, and 356,000 square feet of office space. Raleigh’s downtown market is soft now and the value of the property has come down, but the owners emphasized that if they got a good offer they would take it. Wilson/Blount had pledged to incorporate a new Char-Grill into the ground floor, but when the parcel sells, current owners plan to rebuild the restaurant somewhere else downtown.

In 1960, Snow Associates, Raleigh architects and engineers, designed the Modernist restaurant for original owner Bruce Garner. Garner and later, his son-in-law, ran the restaurant. Current owners bought it in 1979 and have operated it since then.

Char-Grill will be selling its delicious charburgers, french fries, coffee and shakes for the foreseeable future. Drive on over to Raleigh’s last “Googie” fast food destination and stand under the kooky convex/concave canopy to place your order while looking up at the new towers around you. Preservation Raleigh Inc. wants to preserve the cultural vibe of this historic fabric when the popular take-out spot runs out of time.

ELMWOOD, 16 North Boylan Avenue:

The stately antebellum home, built in the 1810s, is in its third century at its original location facing Hillsborough Street. Its time is running out. Along with the Char-Grill located in front of it, these two Raleigh landmarks occupy several parcels that have been rezoned for a 20-story tower. Attorneys William and Cathryn Little, owners of Elmwood, operate their law office there. The pre-Civil War landmark, on a busy downtown street, its attorneys’ shingle hanging outside, has a quintessential Southern charm.

But old Raleigh is in its biggest transformation since the 1950s, and Elmwood must be moved to make way for a high-rise future. Raleigh developer Wilson/Blount was under contract to buy the land where Elmwood and Char-Grill are located, but withdrew from the agreement last year. The rezoning for a 20-story tower allows 507 residential units, 65,000 square feet of retail, and 356,000 square feet of office space. The zoning is contingent upon relocation of the house. The property is back on the market.

Preservation Raleigh Inc. considers the rescue of this significant treasure to be a top priority. Elmwood is one of a handful of pre-Civil War residences located on their original sites in inner-city Raleigh. This reprieve is only temporary. We need the support of Raleigh citizens who value our historic legacy to help us find a new place for this ancient home.

Richard B. Harrison Library

Why it made the 2024 list: This architecturally significant library (designed by Milton Small Jr.) and culturally important site faced vulnerability due to surrounding development pressure from upzoning along the future New Bern Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line. Concerns included its lack of protective designation and potential demolition or relocation. Original article: https://preservationraleigh.org/2024/05/14/harrison-library/

Update (April 2025): GREAT NEWS regarding the Richard B. Harrison Library!

The good news is that Harrison Library is no longer a Place in Peril!! Last year the city of Raleigh upzoned parcels on New Bern Avenue to allow for high density development along the first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line to be built in Raleigh. (Link: https://raleighnc.gov/…/serv…/what-bus-rapid-transit-brt )

PRI fretted about the survival of historic Harrison Library, built in 1968 from a design by Raleigh’s premier mid-century modern architect Milton Small Jr. It is one of the few surviving examples of Small’s work, and one of his most important because it signifies Raleigh’s commitment to the Black community during the segregated Jim Crow era. There was talk about moving the library to the now vacant Department of Motor Vehicles ( (DMV) site. The Raleigh Historic Development Commission sent a letter to Wake County’s Library Commission to declare their intention to landmark the library, owned by the county. Commissioner Adamson, liaison to the Library Commission, concurred that the county also wants to landmark the library. Thanks to the passage of the Wake County Public Libraries referendum last November, Richard B. Harrison will receive public funding for a rehabilitation.

The pristine modernist building, heavily used by the community, has a lot of deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed. Library staff anticipate the renovation and believe that it will include a new interior layout and new furniture. This community icon of east Raleigh will be updated to function as a community center along the new rapid transit bus line corridor.

Prince Hall Historic Overlay District

Why it made the 2024 list: Since its designation in 2012 as Raleigh’s first Black and mixed-use historic overlay district, Prince Hall has faced relentless pressure from developers and the one law firm they employ, determined to chip away at the district’s integrity. Despite strong pushback from preservation advocates, Council-appointed boards, and the community, City Council has de-designated 25 parcels–including 13 contributing historic structures to make way for speculative development, nearly all occurring since 2022. Once capped at roughly three stories, heights for rezoned parcels now allow upwards of 30-stories, situated directly adjacent to one and two-story historic structures. These rezonings resulted in the loss of historic, architectural, and cultural assets from the district’s protective boundary, and include the former Haywood Funeral Home, Cumbo’s Barber Shop, and the Rogers-Bagley Daniels-Pegues and Charles Frazier houses, both significant to the history of Shaw University. Driven by targeted development campaigns as opposed to the loss of historic value, these removals have weakened the district’s integrity and emboldened speculative development, placing not only every remaining historic resource within Prince Hall at risk, but every other historic overlay district.

Update (April 2025):

In response to developer interests, City Council launched an unprecedented review of Prince Hall’s boundaries and future in 2023. In October 2024, they removed yet another parcel for a planned 7-story hotel, against the recommendations of Council appointed boards, the State of North Carolina, and preservation advocates. Since then however? Silence.

But something powerful is happening on the ground.

A once-quiet and underutilized corner is now a vibrant hub thanks to Little Native Coffee Co., which brought new life to a former shoe shop and subsequent salon at 426 S. Person Street. Their success has expanded to include the Littlest Shoppe and the Littlest Tea

Room—welcoming a steady stream of both neighbors and visitors alike—as well as a small outdoor market with performers on the patio many weekends.

With numerous opportunities for thoughtful and sensitive infill, the district’s remaining vacant lots hold so much potential—a plethora of unique opportunities for creative development that adds much-needed density while maintaining, preserving, and enhancing our precious historic fabric. In late 2024, City Council authorized the sale of two of their vacant parcels to Habitat for Humanity for a small, affordable, multi-unit development, demonstrating that a historic overlay district can meet both housing needs and preservation goals.

This is proof: our historic places matter. They anchor communities, inspire and facilitate connection, and fuel creativity.

Read the 2024 article here: https://preservationraleigh.org/…/prince-hall-historic…/

The Beckwith-Farlow House (412 North Wilmington Street)

Why it made the 2024 list:

This state-owned property faced an uncertain future with no clear preservation plan, leaving it vulnerable despite its historical significance. https://preservationraleigh.org/…/beckwith-farlow-house/

Update (April 2025):

Here’s the latest on the Beckwith-Farlow House:

Unfortunately, the situation has become more precarious.

Despite accepting an offer on this property in 2009, as of April 2025, the State Properties Office has failed to close on the sale, and in fact, re-listed the surplus property for sale in March of 2025 for $100,000; structure only, and on the condition it be moved.

Repeated attempts by the original accepted purchaser, Preservation Raleigh, and other concerned citizens to contact the SPO regarding this situation have received no response to date.

The accepted offer to purchase included the vacant state owned lot on the SW corner of Polk and Blount St. The recent sales information does not include a lot for relocation and at $100,000 is likely to doom the structure to the wrecking ball unless the City, the State, preservationists and other interested parties prevail upon the state to honor its 2009 agreement. Doing so would make this a win-win situation. The State would be relieved of a surplus property, the Blount Street streetscape would enjoy the replacement of a beautiful structure on a long vacant and unused parking lot, Raleigh’s tax base would grow, and Raleigh’s history and cultural heritage would be honored.

The E.B. Bain Water Treatment Plant

Why it made the 2024 list: Despite its designation as a Raleigh Historic Landmark and listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the Bain Plant’s prolonged vacancy and the significant challenge of finding a suitable adaptive reuse project placed its future in question. https://preservationraleigh.org/…/bain-water-treatment…/

Update (April 2025): Here’s the latest on the E.B. Bain Water Treatment Plant: There has been no change to the ownership or situation of the plant since last year. This unique Art Moderne structure remains privately owned by Empire Properties of Raleigh and is protected by historic covenants. Extensive work is required to adapt the building for a new use, and Empire Properties continues to offer the property for lease or sale on their website, seeking a tenant or developer to rehabilitate it into retail, office, or another use that activates this “hidden gem.” While the building awaits its next chapter, it remains vacant and in need of significant investment for adaptive reuse.

The Royster House (121 S. Boylan Ave.)

Why it made the 2024 list: This site was designated as in peril due to development pressures. Original article: https://preservationraleigh.org/2024/05/07/121-sboylan/

Update (April 2025): While the Royster House remains threatened, Raleigh preservation groups continue to advocate for its survival.

In January of 2024 an Administrative Site Review was approved for construction of a 20-story mixed use development on this and two neighboring parcels. While this is an early step in the development process and the developer has agreed to allow the house to be moved, time is still running short.

Earlier last year, The Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood (SPHO) set out to find a home for the structure. A city-owned lot at the corner of Morson and East Street had great potential, but the SPHO was sadly outbid.

Both Preservation Raleigh and SPHO continue in their efforts to find a suitable location for the house.

The Ligon House, 573 E. Lenoir Street

Why it made the 2024 list: Faced the threat of demolition or continued deterioration due to neglect.

Original article: https://preservationraleigh.org/2024/05/30/ligon-house/

Update (April 2025): We reported on the Ligon House in May of last year, and sadly, there have been no efforts to stabilize, renovate, or move the house. The current owner of the house is Ashkan Hosseini with Hoss Holdings. In talks with the RHDC in 2021, he indicated that he hoped to save the house by moving it to a lot at the corner of Bloodworth Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Preservation Raleigh is asking our followers to encourage him to follow through on this plan before it’s too late.

Demolition by Neglect: The Silent Destruction of Irreplaceable History


A community’s historic built environment serves as a vital, tangible reminder of its past; a physical articulation of architecture, culture, and social history. Through the lens of these buildings, stories of the people, events, and movements that shape a uniquely individual community are more richly interpreted. This not only provides meaningful connections between the past and present, but serves to reinforce a strong sense of place. Regrettably, one of the most consequential threats to historic buildings and communities is a mechanism called “demolition by neglect”—a slow but deliberate process when property owners allow a historic structure to deteriorate to a point of either collapse or necessitating demolition.

Learn more about Demolition by Neglect in this fifth blog post in our “Preservation 101” series.

What Is Demolition by Neglect?
Demolition by neglect occurs when a property owner—either through inaction or intent—fails to maintain a historic structure, leading to severe disrepair. Over time, exposure to the elements, structural instability, and lack of upkeep make the building unsafe, creating justification for demolition. This practice is often used as a loophole to bypass preservation regulations, allowing owners to clear a site for redevelopment without having to go through the legal process of seeking a demolition permit.

410 Kinsey Street


Why Does It Happen?
There are several reasons why property owners may engage in demolition by neglect:

  1. Financial Hardship – Maintaining buildings can be expensive, and some owners lack the resources to perform necessary repairs.
  2. Desire for Redevelopment – Owners may prefer to replace a historic structure with new construction, but face legal hurdles preventing them from doing so.
  3. Negligence or Apathy – Some owners may simply neglect the property due to disinterest or lack of awareness of its historical value.
  4. Speculative Development – Investors may intentionally allow buildings to decay while waiting for zoning changes or market conditions that favor new construction.

The Consequences of Demolition by Neglect
When historic structures deteriorate beyond repair, communities lose more than just bricks and mortar. The impacts include:

● Loss of Cultural Heritage – Unique architectural styles, craftsmanship, and history are erased forever.
● Blight and Decreased Property Values – Neglected buildings can become eyesores, attracting crime, and reducing surrounding property values.
● Environmental Impact – Demolishing and replacing buildings generates significant construction waste, whereas preservation and restoration are more sustainable.

419 North Blount

Ways for Communities to Address Demolition by Neglect
Municipalities and preservation organizations can take proactive measures to combat demolition by neglect by:

● Enforcing Existing Ordinances – Some cities have laws requiring property owners to maintain historic structures or face fines and/or legal action;
● Providing Financial Incentives – Grants, tax credits, and low-interest loans can help offset the cost of repairs;
● Public Awareness and Advocacy – Educating property owners and the public about the value of historic preservation can foster a greater appreciation for these buildings; and,
● Community Intervention – Nonprofits and local governments can acquire and rehabilitate endangered buildings before they become irreparable.

Understanding the Demolition by Neglect Process in Raleigh
Serving as City Council’s appointed advisory body for zoning and regulatory issues related to historic preservation, the Raleigh Historic Development Commission (RHDC) is a quasi-judicial body that oversees the stewardship of the city’s designated landmarks and historic overlay districts. To ensure the architectural and cultural integrity of these important resources, the RHDC both reviews and recommends proposed changes or developments to historic properties and neighborhoods. In addition, they work with property owners to ensure compliance with historic preservation standards that preserve and maintain historic character while allowing for thoughtful development and change. Governed by the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), preservation concerns such as demolition by neglect fall under the purview of the RHDC, tasked with ensuring that designated historic landmarks and contributing resources within historic overlay districts are properly maintained. If repairs aren’t made within a reasonable period of time, demolition by neglect procedures are initiated. Here’s a simplified overview of how the
process works:

  1. Initial Assessment: When a historic landmark or contributing resource within a historic overlay district is flagged for potential demolition by neglect, the RHDC steps in with an initial evaluation. If repairs are not made within six months after the owner is notified, a report detailing the property’s condition is generated to document demolition by neglect.
  2. RHDC Determination: After reviewing the inspection report, the RHDC evaluates whether the property qualifies as undergoing demolition by neglect. If they determine it does, a petition is prepared and submitted to the Housing and Neighborhoods Department to initiate a case.
  3. Housing and Neighborhoods Process: Following receipt of the petition, Housing and Neighorhoods conducts a preliminary investigation. Upon agreement with RHDC’s assessment, property owners are notified and a hearing is scheduled to review evidence that determines whether or not the property owner is responsible for neglect.
  4. Housing and Neighborhoods Decision: After the hearing, the Housing and Neighborhoods Department makes their determination:
    ● If they find no demolition by neglect, the case ends and a written decision is provided.
    ● If demolition by neglect is confirmed, the owner is ordered to repair the property within a reasonable period of time; this decision can be appealed to the Board of Adjustment.

Building a Future While Protecting the Past
Demolition by neglect is a preventable but persistent threat to our historic built environment. By recognizing the warning signs—and advocating for and administering policies that promote responsible stewardship—communities can protect their architectural heritage for future generations. In Raleigh, the demolition by neglect process strikes a balance between the City’s duty to prevent historic resources from deteriorating to the point of loss, while recognizing the challenges owners may encounter in maintaining their historic properties.” Historic preservation
goes far beyond “preserving old buildings”—it’s a commitment to ensure our shared history both endures and thrives!

323 Pace Street

A Year of Growth for Preservation Raleigh

-Contributed by Esther Hall

2024 was a banner year for Preservation Raleigh, a newly formed non-profit preservation advocacy organization.

In the summer of 2023, a group of former Raleigh Historic District Commissioners, concerned about the growing urgency for a dedicated voice for preservation, gathered at the historic Mecca Restaurant. From this meeting, Preservation Raleigh was born!

Our board members bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to all facets of historic preservation including the celebration of events, people, places, and events we are proud of as well as recognizing moments in our history that can be painful or uncomfortable to remember. They include RHDC Commission Chairs, nationally recognized preservation professionals, and active community advocates.

Guided by the mission of “Sustaining Raleigh’s architectural inheritance for everyone’s benefit,” Preservation Raleigh embarked on its inaugural year with enthusiasm and an abiding commitment to our city.

2024 Preservation Raleigh Accomplishments:

  • Built relationships with City decision-makers, networking with preservation partners, and connecting with like-minded citizens eager to engage “in a conversation with our past about our future.” (National Park Service)
  • Provided regular educational content through blogs and newsletters designed to provide an easy-to-digest primer, Preservation 101.
  • Expanded our reach through the supporters drive and welcomed new members to the Preservation Raleigh community.
  • Celebrated Preservation Month by launching our educational program “Places in Peril.”
  • Invited supporters to tour the Lamar Hall for our inaugural “Porch Party” proving preservationists know how to have fun and enjoy a stunningly restored Victorian home
  • Launched our first Hidden Gems tour of the 1912 Glenwood Fire Station (Engine Company Number 4) offering supporters a first-hand experience in the now restored private residence. fascinating tour
  • Circulated a Candidate’s Questionnaire to Mayoral and City Council candidates and published their responses online informing voters about the candidate’s positions on key preservation issues, including protecting our rich stock of mid-century modern architecture and preserving workforce housing.

We’re incredibly proud of what we accomplished in 2024, and we’re excited to see what 2025 has in store. Please consider this your invitation to join the vital work of Preservation Raleigh. Given the rapid growth of our city, the need for preservation has intensified. Our advocacy efforts embrace differing views around redevelopment and adaptive reuse. From speaking up on behalf of neglected buildings to exploring options for affordable housing, our work is varied and exciting. All are welcome to participate in Sustaining Raleigh’s architectural inheritance for everyone’s benefit.

Get Involved
Your support is crucial to our mission. Please consider supporting Preservation Raleigh!
Support Preservation Raleigh

All donations above are tax-deductible, and it will help make a real local impact. We are deeply grateful for your continued support in preserving Raleigh’s architectural heritage.

Raleigh’s Historic Development Commission Needs a Budget Boost

-Contributed by Nick Fountain

The City of Raleigh is currently in the midst of its annual budget process for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This collaborative process involves input from residents, city departments, and the City Council. Putting together the City of Raleigh’s annual operating budget and five-year Capital Improvement Program is a collaborative process. City departments work on the budget year-round, and the process includes public hearings, a Budget Communities Priority Survey, and City Council work sessions.

The Budget and Management Services Department is hosting a series of listening sessions throughout December and January to gather public input on how tax dollars should be allocated. These sessions provide an opportunity for residents to voice their priorities and concerns regarding city services and programs.

At one of these listening sessions on December 10th, Nick Fountain, VP of Preservation Raleigh and a former member of the Raleigh Historic Development Commission (RHDC), presented compelling arguments for increased funding for the RHDC.

Preservation Raleigh urges the City of Raleigh to recognize the critical importance of the RHDC and invest in its success. Increased funding will allow the commission to better fulfill its mission, protect our city’s valuable historic resources, and contribute to a more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable Raleigh for all.

Mr. Fountain highlighted several critical issues facing the RHDC:

  • Severe Staff Underfunding: The RHDC has been chronically understaffed for over a decade. With a growing number of historic properties and an exponentially expanding city, the current three-person staff is overwhelmed.
  • Increased Legal Complexities: Legal requirements imposed by the City Attorney have significantly increased the workload and costs for both the RHDC and property owners.
  • Inadequate Federal Law Compliance: Understaffing hinders the RHDC’s ability to effectively participate in Section 106 reviews, leading to potential violations of federal law.
  • Threat to Significant Historic Resources: The lack of proper review processes has put landmarks like the Harrison Library and the Oakwood Historic District at risk, as demonstrated by the Bus Rapid Transit and High Speed Rail projects.
  • Mid-Century Modern Preservation Crisis: Raleigh boasts a significant collection of mid-century modern architecture, a valuable cultural and tourism asset. However, these structures are being demolished at an alarming rate due to insufficient resources for identification, designation, and preservation incentives.
  • Limited Affordable Housing Solutions: The RHDC’s Revolving Fund, a crucial tool for preserving historic and affordable housing, is severely underfunded. Expanding this fund would empower more residents to become homeowners.

Preservation Raleigh believes that investing in the RHDC is an investment in Raleigh’s future. A well-resourced commission will not only safeguard our city’s irreplaceable history but also contribute to a more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable community for generations to come. We urge the City of Raleigh to prioritize the RHDC’s needs in the upcoming budget deliberations.

In-Person Sessions, January 2025

Come share your thoughts about the City budget in January for a listening session held at a community center in each district. 

Follow the links below to register. Registration is not required for in-person sessions, unless you would like interpretation services (available free of charge at all sessions) and/or child care services (available free of charge at all in-person sessions.)

While residents are invited to attend any of the listening sessions, at least one in-person session is taking place in each district so that everyone has an equal opportunity to attend. To find your district, enter your address in the Services section of our homepage.  

Learn more about the budget process. For questions, call 919-996-4270 or email  budget@raleighnc.gov.