Foley column: Vacant buildings like Hotel Hinton not tourist attractions

Sometimes fixes are simply across county lines.

Last week, I attended a community meeting in Edenton held to discuss the dilemma the town now finds itself in with the Hinton Hotel project. The historic hotel is located on a quaint, tree-lined street, next to the Chowan County Courthouse built in 1767.

The courthouse is pristine; the hotel, not so much.

In 2015, SAGA Realty & Construction purchased the shuttered hotel. As of August, the property has continued to deteriorate as SAGA’s construction saga has stalled and nothing, including regular building maintenance, has regularly been done to the property.

While residents and business owners are frustrated about electrical issues, long-term neglect and the invitation for vandals to take advantage of the former hotel, the Town Council is searching for a solution or exit plan.

They may want to contact Williamston Town Planning and Zoning Administrator Andrew Brownfield.

In 2022, Williamston’s town board passed a Vacant Building Ordinance stipulating requirements for building owners. Previous ordinance enforcement was spotty until Brownfield’s arrival in the position in May.

In July, Brownfield sent a letter to vacant building owners, informing them they had 30 days to meet ordinance stipulations, including that their buildings maintain a proper appearance.

Other criteria included maintaining exterior awnings, painted trim and loose bricks and siding.

All first-floor street-level windows and doors have to be intact, and stored materials, debris or other items suggesting vacancy need to be out of pedestrians’ sight.

If the building’s owner resides 40 miles outside of Williamston, they are required to hire a property management company to maintain the premises. Buildings under management are required to post a conspicuous sign on the property that includes contact information for the property manager.

Any property owner failing to register their vacant property or otherwise violating the ordinance may be subject to civil penalty in the amount of $50 per day. Each day is considered a separate violation.

Since the letter went out, activity has already begun and building owners have started to comply.

I am not suggesting Williamston’s ordinance is the rapid solution to an age-old problem. I am suggesting, however, the community officials within earshot have a responsibility to citizens and taxpayers they serve to keep a town’s outward appearance to high standards.

Bertie, Martin and Chowan county leaders and residents are working to highlight the area’s natural beauty and promote the area as a tourist destination. And, from the latest reports, tourism is increasing in each of the counties.

While these efforts are commendable and should be applauded, vacant buildings with broken windows, whether on the fourth floor of the Hotel Hinton or on King Street in Windsor, are the responsibility of the building’s owner and are counter-productive to the promotional efforts of others.

If Edenton officials would have implemented vacant building ordinance criteria as a contractual stipulation with SAGA in 2019, when that construction plan was approved, the town would have profited by over $92,000 in daily fines.

Yes, hope does spring eternal.