Snow Hill’s historic firehouse is on the market. Officials here hope what goes there next can be part of the town’s ongoing downtown revitalization.
Snow Hill officials have declined to act on an offer to buy the town’s vacant firehouse, voting instead to table the decision.
The Town Council’s 2-1 vote to postpone any moves at its Jan. 13 meeting came without setting a deadline to review offers on the firehouse, an anchor of the downtown that’s been on the market for months.
Council members Margaret Ann Fletcher and Aaron Lumpkins supported the motion to table while Councilman Eddie Lee did not.
Residents had made it clear they favor the proposal to revamp the firehouse into an events space. During a public hearing about the sale held before the council meeting, a dozen people spoke with many saying the town should proceed with the sale.
Mandy Gladden, head of the Snow Hill chamber of commerce, mentioned how the firehouse is just one of multiple vacant buildings and empty storefronts in Snow Hill’s downtown.
Every month the old fire hall sits empty is a “missed opportunity,” she told the council, adding that a new owner could bring foot traffic to downtown and spending at local businesses.
“It means life, energy, and purpose returning to an iconic building that deserves to be part of Snow Hill’s future, and not just its past,” Gladden said. “This could be the turning point. Snow Hill is open for business, and this is our chance to show it.”
For now, the 13,470 square foot commercial building remains on the market for $325,000 with listing agents Clint Bickford and Bryan Coates, both of whom appeared at the meeting.
They had someone who wanted to buy it a couple of years ago, but with their wisdom, or lack of it, turned the offer down. Now they can’t decide what to do with it, so it will remain empty and turn into a state of disrepair. Also, the town bought the PNC bank on the river and have done nothing with it despite having business people who wanted to rent it. They keep raising taxes and fees when these properties are doing nothing but costing the taxpayers of snow hill money. Go figure
Give it a rest. Ain’t nobody buying any thin’ in slow hill. Place is a dump.