The Eden Preservation Commission is made up of members appointed by the city council. On March 16, the commission voted on a resolution to be presented to multiple state government officials. There are seven members on the commission, and only one voted against this resolution. It is unfortunate that only one member of the commission knows that government at any level should not intervene in the historic-property business on economic grounds.
There is no justification for compelling state taxpayers to subsidize the preservation of historic properties in particular cities or towns. There is, however, justification for local taxpayers to chip in for renovating historic buildings that may, if left abandoned, endanger the structural integrity of neighboring properties or threaten public health and safety. That still doesn’t mean that North Carolina ought to deliver these subsidies in the form of state tax credits.
Since the city specifically states they have blighted, unused, and unsafe structures, maybe it is time for the City of Eden to look at it’s own budget if it wants to offer historic preservation, instead of to the state taxpayer.
Here is a copy of the Eden resolution:
