The shape of things to come in Mount Airy apparently won’t include “The Cube.”
City council members voted 5-0 Thursday night to award a demolition contract targeting that iconic building on the former Spencer’s industrial property located downtown.
The contract also calls for razing what is known as The Cube Annex and Dye House there.
At one time those ageing structures figured prominently in city officials’ plans to redevelop the former textile mill property with the help of historic tax credits that preserve the character of noteworthy buildings.
However, the parade apparently has passed the structures by, even though The Cube in particular earlier was eyed for uses including a culinary institute.
The demolition was recommended in the latest engineering report for the site.
It cites “the compromised structural integrity” of the buildings.
The demo job was awarded by the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners Thursday to D.H. Griffin Wrecking Co. based in Greensboro.
It was the lowest among five bidders for the project, submitting an offer of $152,400.The highest, $422,000, came from a local company, Sowers Construction.
The project will be funded through a $2 million allocation from the state Legislature to aid the Spencer’s redevelopment.
D.H. Griffin has handled similar projects satisfactorily for the municipality in the past, City Manager Darren Lewis said Thursday night.
Tax credit factor
Mount Airy officials had sought the demolition bids on an informal basis before a deadline in May.
The tentative nature of that reflected a need to gain approval from both state and federal agencies to ensure the demolition would not jeopardize the tax credit availability.
Lewis mentioned Thursday night that the State Historic Preservation Office had signed off on this, with the matter now resting with the National Park Service.
“We’re just waiting on that final OK,” the city manager said.
It is expected sometime this summer, but no tear-downs will happen until this occurs.
“And then at that point we will proceed with demolition and development on that site,” Lewis advised.
This is coinciding with efforts now under way to establish a Marriott hotel in the Sparger Building nearby.
Along with transforming that facility dating to 1892, the hotel project has been tied to adjacent property including developing a conference center for groups booking rooms.
Mayor Jon Cawley shed light Thursday on the timing involved with awarded the demolition contract then.
He pointed out that the city commissioners aren’t scheduled to meet again until July 18 because of the Fourth of July period.
“And that month is critical for us to keep this project moving,” the mayor said regarding a December 2025 date set for the completion of the lodging establishment toward a 2026 opening.
Most Popular
Comments / 0