County transfers ownership of former armory to the city

Pasquotank County has transferred ownership of the former U.S. Army National Guard Armory to the care of Elizabeth City officials.

The county commissioners voted last week to transfer the former armory to the city of Elizabeth City. Commissioners’ unanimous approval followed a brief presentation by Pasquotank Manager Sparty Hammett.

In March, the county approved a 90-day lease extension with the city, which plans to convert the armory into the new home for the Elizabeth City Police Department’s Police Athletic League. The extension was to allow time for the North Carolina Council of State to approve the armory’s transfer to the city. According to Hammett, the Council of State approved the transfer in early June.

“So, we would recommend approval to execute the transfer of the National Guard Armory to the city of Elizabeth City,” Hammett said.

Before the transfer of deed, the city had been leasing at no cost the armory property for use by PAL and other purposes, with the understanding the city was responsible for utilities and maintenance.

The armory building occupies about 16,500 square feet on a total of about 3.5 acres at Westover Street and Catalina Avenue, adjacent to public basketball courts and skate park. The city’s Enfield Park baseball and softball fields and splash pad are located a block from the armory.

After the National Guard moved out of the armory, the facility sat vacant for at least a year until Pasquotank officials were notified in December 2020 that the building was available and ownership could be passed to the county.