BY MILES LAYTON

EDENTON — A proposed parking garage and workforce housing development in the heart of downtown Edenton is stirring both hope and concern as town officials move forward with planning for the transformative project.

At a recent public hearing, residents, business owners, and elected officials voiced mixed reactions to a plan that would replace the north lot on Court Street with a two-story open-air parking deck and six affordable apartments.

The proposal — part of a broader revitalization strategy known as “Project Teapot” — is being led by Mainstreet Edenton with support from architects at Glavé & Holmes, known for their work in historic communities such as Williamsburg and Yorktown, Virginia.

Support with Reservations

Many acknowledged the need for more parking downtown, particularly with the anticipated opening of new businesses, offices, and the Hotel Hinton.

“We need more parking spaces,” said downtown resident John Morehead of Court Street. “To get more parking spaces, you either have to grow horizontally and encroach on the residential neighborhoods — which I don’t think is good — or you have to go up.”

While Morehead said he has enjoyed not having a parking structure near his home, he believes the garage is a necessary investment to support downtown’s long-term health.

“I think, honestly, this is the right place for it,” he said. “And I’d hate to see us miss the chance to do it now, with grant funding available, and have to build something cheaper and less thoughtful later.”

Questions of Communication and Impact

Not all feedback was positive. Several speakers questioned whether the public — especially those living or working near the site — was adequately informed.

“I’ve spoken with people who live around the property, and they said they only saw a picture in the newspaper,” said resident Anne Rowe of Blount Street. “They didn’t know anything. They should have had the chance to ask questions and express concerns.”

Rowe also raised alarms about potential damage to nearby homes and historic buildings from pile-driving during construction — citing personal experience from the 1960s when construction next door left her family home with cracked ceilings and walls.

“I want the property owners around this project to know what you are doing — and what their lack of security or security will be,” she said. “And what about the courthouse and old jail? Will the walls crack there too?”

In response, project officials noted that pile driving would not be used. Instead, the structure will rely on reinforced concrete and specialty rebar designed to minimize vibrations — a feature specifically chosen to protect nearby historic structures.

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is also involved in the project review, and archaeological assessments will be conducted.

Apartments: A Key to Funding

A recurring question at the meeting was whether the six planned apartments were essential to the project or if the parking deck could proceed without them.

Mainstreet Edenton Executive Director Ches Chesson explained that the apartments are crucial to the project’s financing structure, which relies on new market tax credits.

“For this particular project, yes — everything needs to be contiguous,” he said. “You provide more value by having six units instead of four. The funding model becomes less efficient with fewer units.”

All six apartments will be reserved for households earning less than 80% of Chowan County’s area median income — about $62,000 for a family of three. Units will not have assigned parking spaces but will be managed by a third-party firm yet to be identified.

Chesson also emphasized the broader benefits: increased parking capacity, affordable housing, buried utility lines, stormwater improvements, and aesthetic upgrades to Court Street.

Planning Board and Public Process

Some speakers criticized the planning process, suggesting that not all members of the planning board were fully confident in the recommendation to approve the permit.

“One member said he was waffling and just wanted it to be unanimous,” JD Grant said. “The planning board basically said, ‘We’re just a recommendation board — it’s really up to you [Town Council] to decide.’”

Council members were also pressed on whether a simpler, less costly option — such as restriping the North Lot for more flat parking spaces — had been seriously considered.

Rowe asked: “Why not just rework the lot, put in designated flat parking spaces, and save the money?”

Construction Logistics

Concerns were also raised about how the construction phase will affect day-to-day life downtown — especially access to the South Lot, which remains heavily used.

“The South Parking Lot is already the Wild West,” Grant said. “Once construction starts, it’s going to be a real problem for the people who live and work there.”

Chesson acknowledged the issue and said discussions are underway to identify “lay-down yards” — staging areas for construction equipment and materials — on properties throughout downtown to reduce disruption.

What’s Next

The Town Council granted the special use permit for the project, but final construction hinges on the availability of state funding, which developers say is included in the Senate budget. If the state budget passes and funding is secured, construction could begin in November, with completion targeted within 18 months.

Mayor Hackney High and other council members have expressed cautious optimism about the project, balancing public concerns with the long-term vision for Edenton’s downtown.

“We know this isn’t a small decision,” High said. “But we also know we need to plan for the future.”

Whether the community sees this as progress or disruption — or both — Edenton appears poised to take its next step upward.