Pfafftown neighbors share concerns about ‘compound’

PFAFFTOWN, N.C. (WGHP) — A growing homeless encampment in Pfafftown has sparked concerns from neighbors who say they no longer feel safe in the area.

The site, known locally as the “Pfafftown Compound,” has become the focus of both community members and county officials as they seek a resolution.

Residents say the situation has escalated over the past year, but Forsyth County officials didn’t become fully aware of the extent of the problem until late July. Since then, the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection has opened a case on the property at 4780 Pfaff Ln.

“I don’t think many people would choose to live in the conditions that have developed on that property,” Director of Forsyth County’s Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection Minor Barnette said.

The nearly four-acre property is cluttered with makeshift structures, garbage and various items scattered throughout the area. While the exact number of people living on the site is unclear, neighbors say the population appears to be growing.

“It’s really sad, but it’s also a health hazard,” said Lacie Nandelstadt, a concerned neighbor. “There’s got to be rodents and disease.”

The property owner has signed an abatement agreement committing to removing solid waste and refuse from the property by Nov. 5. However, Barnette noted that progress has been slow.

“There has been some progress made, but it’s been moving more slowly than I think the occupant anticipated,” Barnette said. “We’re not surprised because we saw how much material was on that property.”

A challenge the county is facing is the distinction between solid waste and usable items such as motorcycles, cars and bikes, which are not subject to removal under county authority.

“I go by before 8 a.m., and they’re hosing off things they’ve collected overnight. I don’t know where they’re getting it,” Nandelstadt said.

If the property owner demonstrates a good-faith effort toward cleanup, the county may extend the Nov. 5 deadline.

If the deadline is missed, the property owner could face fines and possible misdemeanor criminal charges.

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