WALSTONBURG, N.C. , Greene County Government is pleased to announce that work will soon begin on a property in the heart of downtown Walstonburg that has sat underused for many years, giving the site a cleaner appearance and a better opportunity for future use.
Beginning October 6, contractors are expected to begin clearing and grubbing portions of the former Farmers Oil Company property and demolishing two older warehouse structures. The existing concrete pads will remain in place.
The work is being made possible through the Lenoir, Wayne, and Greene County Brownfields Coalition and funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Brownfields Grant Program. The coalition was formed to identify, assess, and help revitalize underused or potentially contaminated properties across the three county region, with the goal of removing barriers that can prevent older properties from returning to productive use.
The EPA funded program can support a range of activities that help communities and property owners better understand older properties and prepare them for possible future use. These activities can include Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, asbestos and lead testing, underground tank sampling or removal, property condition assessments, feasibility studies, cleanup planning, and reuse planning.
The former Farmers Oil Company property has been part of the Walstonburg landscape for generations. Historical research completed as part of the project indicates that Farmers Oil Company was established around 1948 and operated at the site until the early 2000s. Two warehouse buildings included in the project date to approximately 1950.
The site sits in a highly visible portion of downtown Walstonburg along West Railroad Avenue, near the railroad, the former Walstonburg Train Depot, the former Farmers Gin and Mill property, and the former Walstonburg Hardware Store.
“This is the kind of project that can make a lasting difference for a small community,” said Bennie Heath, Chairman of the Greene County Board of Commissioners. “We are taking a property that has been underused for many years and putting it in a better position for the future. It will improve the appearance of downtown Walstonburg, give the property owners a better property to work with, and create new possibilities for what may come next. And just as importantly, this work is being done without a cost to the property owners, the Town, or Greene County taxpayers. That is something we can all be proud of.”
As part of the preparation for the project, initial site assessments were completed. The demolition and site work will be carried out in accordance with applicable requirements and will pave the way for additional assessments which will further define site conditions and remove additional barriers for site reuse.
The current work will remove deteriorated structures and clear portions of the property while leaving the existing concrete pads in place. The result will be a cleaner and more usable property for the owners and a significant visual improvement in a highly visible area of downtown Walstonburg.
The work is being completed through the EPA program at no cost to the property owners, the Town of Walstonburg, or Greene County. The property was identified through the coalition’s assessment process because of its long term underuse, its prominent location in downtown Walstonburg, and its potential for future redevelopment and reuse. The program is designed to address barriers that can keep properties like this from returning to productive use while creating a broader benefit for the surrounding community.
Additional phases of the regional effort will look at other existing buildings and properties in the area to determine where available grant funding may support future assessment, renovation, and reuse efforts. The program can help address some of the upfront costs and uncertainty that often make older and underused properties more difficult to redevelop.
“This project is a good example of what can happen when folks work together and keep at it,” said Trey Cash, Chief Operating Officer of the NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region. “I am grateful to the property owners for trusting us through this process, and I want to thank the Greene County Board of Commissioners, the elected leaders of Walstonburg, and Bess Patton with the Town for being such good partners. I am also thankful for our coalition partners and Mid Atlantic Associates. This is real, visible work that will improve downtown Walstonburg, give this property a better chance at a new future, and make Greene County a little better. That is something all of us can be proud of.”
Greene County extends its sincere appreciation to the property owners for their patience, cooperation, and trust throughout more than a year of work on the project. Their willingness to work with the County and its partners has been essential to moving the project forward.
Greene County also recognizes the Town of Walstonburg, its elected leaders, Bess Patton and Town staff, Mid Atlantic Associates, Lenoir County, Wayne County, and the NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region for their partnership and work in helping move the project forward.
For Greene County, this effort is about more than removing old structures. It is about giving a long underused property a better chance at a productive future, improving the appearance of downtown Walstonburg, supporting private property owners as they consider what comes next, and creating new possibilities for future investment and reuse.
More information about the regional Brownfields program is available at LWGbrownfields.com.
Media Contact:
Trey Cash
Chief Operating Officer
NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region
