Thomasville outlines plan to develop Kern Street School into affordable housing

After years of complaints and frustration, the City of Thomasville announced it is planning to tear down the crumbling old Kern Street School and build affordable housing on the property.

The City of Thomasville has applied for a Rural Transformation Grant through the North Carolina Department of Commerce for approximately $900,000.

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If the city is approved for the grant, they plan on using the funds to demolish the building, do environmental testing, and site preparation. They hope to know the result of the application by June.

Thomasville Assistant Manager Eddie Bowling said that the idea of developing the old Kern Street School property was discussed during the Thomasville City Council retreat in January. It was named as one of the priorities for the upcoming year.

“We have a number of damaged and blighted properties that need to be taken care of and Kern Street was one of those properties,” said Bowling. “When we found out about the Rural Transformation Grant, it really fit all the criteria.”

The Rural Transformation Grant Fund is a new fund established by state legislators last year for rural economic development following the pandemic. The $48 million in funding come from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds and the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Part of the Rural Transformation Grant is to “create resilient neighborhoods through community development, neighborhood revitalization, economic investments, and quality of life improvements. This also includes development of affordable housing.

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The old Kern Street School was condemned by the city after two fires, one on Nov. 2 and another on Dec. 31, 2020, destroyed most of the structure, including the roof.

The former elementary school and church has been a point of contention for the city as well as residents long before the fires last year. The City of Thomasville placed liens on the property for cost associated with upkeep and repair of the abandoned property for several years after not getting any response from the property owners.

Bowling said the property owners have not responded to any correspondence from the city since the fires and have not attempted any cleanup of the property. As a result, the city has condemned the property and has begun foreclosure proceedings and hopes to take ownership of the property.

As part of the project, the City of Thomasville is partnering with Home Solutions of Davidson County to build 12 to 14 new single-family homes on the property.

Toby Prince, executive director of Home Solutions of Davidson County, said they have partnered with the City of Thomasville to not only build the homes, but to work with potential homeowners through their programs to be financially prepared.

“We are excited to be part of the project,” said Prince. “Housing stock in (the county) in general is very low or substandard. It is a huge project and something wonderful for a property that has been an eyesore for many years.”

He said Home Solutions plans to build the homes in phases, two or three at a time, as the site is cleared and prepared for construction.

Bowling said city leaders decided they wanted to build homes instead of apartments or a subdivision after hearing from the community during a public forum on April 19.

“We wanted something that is consistent with what is already in the neighborhood. That is also what we heard from the community; they didn’t want a block of apartments,” said Bowling.

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As part of the project, Bowling said a new road will be built between Leonard Street and Caits Avenue. It also includes plans to have a small neighborhood park on the property.

Depending on whether they get the grant and when they are able to take ownership of the property, Bowling said they hope to begin demolition by the end of the year.

He said either way he is pleased that after years of dealing with the property, something positive for the community is finally being done.

"It is a huge win for our city and our residents,” said Bowling.

General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.

This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Thomasville seeks grant to tear down Kern St. School and build houses