The Redevelopment Commission views this plan as a tool to improve economic conditions downtown. The plan advocates for the allocation of public funds to incentivize the redevelopment of distressed properties, through rebuilding and improving structures in various states of disrepair and obsolescence. Furthermore, the plan demonstrates to the public the city’s commitment to downtown revitalization. The Commission acknowledges that economic conditions can change unexpectedly and therefore intends for this plan to be adaptable in order to take advantage of opportunities and address threats related to the plan’s implementation. The 2018-2023 Central Business District Redevelopment Plan relies on statutory authority to improve blighted areas and areas in need of rehabilitation, conservation, and reconditioning. Under state law, blighted areas contain buildings or improvements that, by reason of “dilapidation, deterioration, age or obsolescence,” … “substantially impairs the sound growth of the community, is conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, and crime, and is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare.” State law describes rehabilitation, conservation, and reconditioning areas as posing a “clear and present danger” that in the reasonably foreseeable future an area will become a “blighted area” unless the city takes action. II. DESCRIPTION OF REDEVELOPMENT AREA A. Area Boundary and Existing Uses The area’s boundary is identified by Randolph County Parcel Identification Numbers 7751726479, 7751725650, 7751738346, 7751831174 and 7751733983 and inclusive of all adjacent streets and right-of-ways. A map of this boundary is shown in Figure 2. The area includes seven buildings on five parcels and has a total area of approximately 12.73 acres. Buildings range in age from more than 60 years old to more than 100 years old and four are designated or contributing National Register of Historic Places structures. All of the uses originally occupying the buildings, which were primarily textile manufacturing or railroad oriented, have ceased; age and obsolescence of the buildings therefore are the primary impediments to re-use. None of the buildings have been upfitted to comply with current building and fire code requirements. The principal use of the buildings is storage. Three buildings are unoccupied and undergoing stabilization work and one is vacant.
4
