NCLM Volume 71, Issue 1, 2021

SOUTHERN CITY QUARTER 1 2021 36 Launched by one municipality and successfully replicated by a second, Historic Building Showcases seemed like a golden ticket before being halted by the pandemic. Targeting and developing North Carolina downtowns across the state, they were a win-win scenario for communities and cities alike. It is nothing new for state and local leaders to hone in on old vacant and underutilized buildings. Their value to the commu- nity is known, as are the reasons they sit unsold or unattended. The difference with these events was the format—the conflu- ence of all relevant and prospective parties, and a piece-by- piece addressing of the hurdles that afflict this process. What resulted was significant momentum. Buildings that had sat empty were suddenly bought up. The number of interested buyers increased overnight. Longtime local blemishes saw the lights turn back on. Though temporarily derailed, the energy created by these events has not diffused. Rather, their appeal has only grown, seen now not only from a perspective of economic develop- ment, but also economic recovery. It started in Elizabeth City. THE HOMEGROWN HISTORIC SHOWCASE ˘˘˘ What Does an Empty Building Cost? The cause of vacant historic buildings in a city’s downtown area varies, though across North Carolina there are a few prominent culprits. Sometimes families move, or there are simply absentee owners. Other times, much larger economic forces are at play, as tobacco warehouses and old shops become skeletons of compa- nies that once flourished. The brick and mortar serve as memo- rials. Their impact on the town, however, never really subsides, because once built it’s either a blight or a benefit. The price of an empty building is in many ways an opportunity cost. What could be there that is not? Picture one of North Caroli- na’s many revitalized Main Streets, and you’re given a scene flush with both culture and commerce. The heritage of the buildings— brick, repurposed, neatly representing both decades past and now—cannot be separated from the business happening in and around them, nor vice versa. It is a package deal that creates a city center, and these buildings play a central role. Having those vacant leaves that central role empty. ELIZABETH CITY STARTED THE HISTORIC BUILDING SHOWCASE, AND TARBORO FORMALIZED IT. NOW, THE FORMAT PROMISES TO BOOST TOWNS’ REHABILITATION EFFORTS STATEWIDE. JACK CASSIDY NCLM Communications Associate