CHARLOTTE, N.C.--A century-old fire station in Charlotte's historic South End may get the wrecking ball treatment this May.
The owner of the property has applied for permission to tear the now-empty building down in order to sell his failed investment property.
Marcel Stark first bought the building in 2006, with other investors. He tells NewsChannel 36 he had elaborate plans for the property and hoped to restore it, but could not finance the project.
The building, first built in 1907, was Charlotte's Station #2--the second first house ever built in the Queen City.
According to Dan Morrill, consulting director of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmark Commission, it was a gift from Charlotte to Dilworth to convince the "suburb" to remain a part of the city.
In the beginning, the fire "trucks" housed there were drawn by horses.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a local landmark.
Because of that historic significance, the developer is required to ask permission from the Historic Landmark Commission to demolish the building, but the commission is required to say yes.
The panel did take advantage of the option to delay that demolition by a year. The year expires May 1.
Fearing that demolition, the Historic Landmark Commission decided to dig into its coffers and attempt to buy the building to preserve it. Stark rejected the most recent $950,000 offer, which comes from taxpayer money.
"It has always been my position to keep the historic firehouse intact," he tells NewsChannel 36. "For the past 2 years, I have offered numerous suggestions and options to the commission to save the property, such as using funds allocated annually to the commission to help with the renovations. Simply put, I am a small business owner and can’t afford to maintain and take losses on a building indefinitely."
Stark said $950,000 would not come close to covering his losses. He says the land is worth far more than that, which is why he's negotiating with a buyer who'd like to see the building torn down.
Kristin Hodge, vice president of the Historic South End Neighborhood Association, is one of many South End and Dilworth advocates who want to see the building preserved.
"Condos and new developers are a dime a dozen, but it's little gems like a 101-year-old firehouse that really give South End it's flavor," Hodge said.
Stark says he needs something to change to make that happen. "I have only requested assistance in providing moneys already allocated to renovate which would save the City and Landmark Commission a million dollars, generate 24 new jobs with a confirmed tenant, and provide a deed restriction whereas the Dilworth Fire Station could never be demolished."
The City of Charlotte has taken a lot of heat over the years for failing to preserve its history.
"Charlotte, generally speaking is the least interested [of the city's in Mecklenburg County] in what we do," Morrill said. "I think this is going to be a most interesting test case because I think, ultimately, the only thing that is going to save that building is if the community wants it saved."
