The site is located at 127 Maple Street in downtown North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It spans approximately 3.01 acres and is adjacent to community assets including Smoot Park, Yadkin River Blueway, and the Yadkin River Greenway, making it a prime location for potential redevelopment that could boost recreational and community engagement opportunities. Currently, the abandoned and blighted state of the property undermines efforts to revitalize the downtown area, deterring investment and exacerbating economic stagnation. This property is being designated as a brownfield, which is defined by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as a property that contains or may contain a hazardous substance, like pollutants or contaminants, that complicates efforts to expand, redevelop or reuse them.
The Smoot Tannery site is part of a broader strategy to target key properties in the downtown corridor for revitalization as outlined in the upcoming Downtown Master Plan and River District Plan. This grant will be used to address contamination and stabilize the site, paving the way for redevelopment that is essential for achieving the town's broader economic and public health goals. Remediation will not only remove dangerous pollutants but will also mitigate public health risks, enabling future community-centered projects such as public green spaces, commercial uses, or mixed-use developments that align with local revitalization plans.
Next Steps:
-Site Control / Ownership Scenarios
-Neighborhood Revitalization Plan (New TAB provider NJIT)
-Brownfield Cleanup – In queue to apply for EPA’s Clean Up Grant November 14th & Brownfield Agreement with NCDEQ
-Designate partnerships to make this redevelopment happen
-Program Design and Tenant Recruitment
-Outline of phased approach to development, from site preparation to full build-out
