May was National Preservation Month, an annual observance that highlights the social and economic benefits of historic preservation. During this time, groups across the country celebrate and promote historic places and heritage.
As Preservation Month has concluded, our commitment to protecting Raleigh’s historic places continues. Our Places in Peril initiative, now in its second year, spotlights the city’s most vulnerable landmarks threatened by development, neglect, and changing times.
We’re still advocating for the eight sites featured in 2024. This year, we’ve also introduced six new locations under threat. You’ll find articles detailing their history, current challenges, potential solutions, and ways you can help right here on this page.
Do you have any additional information about the featured places, or success stories from our Calls to Action? We want to hear from you! Share your insights with Dana at communications@preservationraleigh.org
Historic St. Augustine’s University Needs Community Support
May 12, 2025
May is National Preservation Month, and Preservation Raleigh is proud to promote this important month through our Places In Peril initiative. This article focuses on St. Augustine’s University, 1315 Oakwood Avenue, east Raleigh. This university campus holds deep significance in Black education, history, and culture as well as architectural and landscape design, but currently faces institutional uncertainty.
The P. Edgar Furr House: A Story of Neglect and Indifference.
May 14, 2025
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.
The William Harvey & Effie Lytle House: African American History in Peril
May 22, 2025
This article focuses on The William Harvey and Effie Lytle House, the third site featured in our 2025 series. 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.
The Drew House: A Vision of Mid-Century Modern Living
May 28, 2025
As part of Preservation Raleigh’s 2025 Places in Peril series, we highlight the Drew House at 511 Transylvania Ave. This quintessential example of Mid-Century Modern architecture faces imminent demolition. The intriguing story begins in 1953 with a feature in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, as a “Five Star Home” design that would go on to join the residential landscape of Raleigh’s Country Club Hills neighborhood.
Demolition of the G. Ernest Moore House: the beginning of the end of Historic Oakwood?
May 30, 2025
Discover the history and architectural significance of Raleigh’s G. Ernest Moore House (311 E. Edenton St.), a Neoclassical Revival home in the Oakwood Historic District. Learn about the current threat of demolition and how its loss would set a dangerous precedent for Raleigh’s historic districts. Find out what you can do to help preserve this valuable historic structure.
The Lucille Hunter House: Honoring an Educator, Preserving a Landmark
May 30, 2025
Discover the history and significance of the Hunter House, a vital piece of African American heritage and home to educator Lucille Hunter. Learn why this Prince Hall landmark at 316 E. Cabarrus Street is a 2025 “Place in Peril”.
2024 Places in Peril:
121 S. Boylan Ave.: A Historic Raleigh House in Peril
The Royster House at 121 S. Boylan Ave is an historic structure facing mounting development pressures and potential demolition.
The owner has expressed willingness to let someone move the house when he is ready to build a larger building on the property. The front part of the house is the most important, and could be moved without the rear section if necessary.
The Royster House at 121 S. Boylan Ave was rezoned to DX-20 to allow up to 20 stories, which only increases the urgency to move the house as soon as possible.
Beyond Burgers and Bricks: Why Saving the Char-Grill and Elmwood House Matters
As of April 2024, plans for a 20-story tower in Glenwood South, have stalled. While this news may disappoint some, it presents a golden opportunity to save two cherished landmarks: the historic Elmwood House, dating back to 1813, and the beloved Char-Grill restaurant, a downtown icon since 1959. This article explores the rich history of both Elmwood and the Char-Grill, highlighting their significance to Raleigh’s identity, and urges continued efforts to preserve these irreplaceable pieces of the city’s past.
Don’t Move It, Improve It: Why the Richard B. Harrison Library Deserves Preservation
The Richard B. Harrison Library stands as a beacon of history and community pride in Southeast Raleigh. More than just a place to borrow books, it’s a tangible reminder of the fight for equal access to education and resources. Its future, however, hangs in the balance due to plans for a Rapid Transit system on New Bern Avenue.
The Brimley-Upchurch House: Journey and Fight for Survival
Have you ever wondered where Raleigh’s famed naturalist H.H. Brimley once lived? In this post, Preservation Raleigh dives into the story of the Brimley-Upchurch house, a Queen Anne style dwelling that’s faced a fascinating journey. Originally built in 1899 by the Upchurch family, the house later became home to Brimley and his sons. Now vacant and in decline, the future of this historic structure located in the Prince Hall Historic Overlay District hangs in the balance. Can it be saved, or will neglect claim another piece of Raleigh’s past? Read the full story to learn more about the Brimley-Upchurch house and the fight for its preservation:
Raleigh’s Historic E.B. Bain Water Treatment Plant: A Landmark Awaits Its Next Chapter
The E.B. Bain Water Treatment Plant stands as a testament to Raleigh’s history and commitment to innovation in public works. Completed in 1940, it was designated a Raleigh Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This architectural gem, vacant since the 1990s, boasts a unique blend of functionality and Art Moderne style.
With its rich history, architectural significance, and impressive engineering story, the plant offers a unique canvas for creative redevelopment.
The question remains: who will be the steward to guide this landmark into its next chapter?
A Legacy Preserved: The Fight for Raleigh’s Prince Hall Historic Overlay District
This feature shines a light on Raleigh’s Prince Hall Historic District. This vibrant downtown neighborhood boasts significant architecture and serves as a cornerstone of the city’s Black history. But threats loom, jeopardizing its boundaries. Discover Prince Hall’s rich legacy and the ongoing fight for its preservation. Learn how you can help secure its future as a testament to Raleigh’s Black community:
A Race Against Time: Saving the Beckwith-Farlow House
Raleigh boasts a rich history reflected in its architectural heritage. Yet, time and progress can threaten these irreplaceable structures. The Beckwith-Farlow House, a charming Queen Anne home at 412 North Wilmington Street, stands precariously as one such threatened landmark. Identified by Preservation Raleigh as a Place in Peril, this historic structure urgently needs the State of NC to allow a buyer to relocate and restore it to its former glory.
The Ligon House: A Legacy of Education and Community
The Ligon House, a once-grand Craftsman-style residence at 573 E. Lenoir St., stands as a testament to a prominent family and a pivotal figure in the city’s history. For 75 years, it was the home of the Ligon family, with Rev. Dr. John William Ligon, a respected educator, pastor, and community leader, at its heart. However, the house itself has faced an uncertain future in recent years.