By Nicole Bowman-Layton
EDENTON — Restoration work has officially begun on the Elizabeth Wozelka House at 103 W. Queen St., marking a new chapter in a preservation effort that has evolved significantly since the Edenton Town Council first approved an agreement with Southern Bank on Dec. 22, 2025.
The Edenton Historical Commission announced that ownership of the Wozelka House was transferred to Outeast Properties LLC in exchange for a property of equivalent value at 108 W. Eden St. The move follows Southern Bank’s decision in 2025 to gift the historic home to the commission in hopes of securing a long-term, preservation-minded solution.
Outeast Properties, owned by Edenton residents Joe and Stephanie Wach, is known for restoring historic buildings. The company previously rehabilitated the circa 1890 Dixon Building at 325 S. Broad St. (site of Surf, Wind and Fire) and the circa 1900 Conger Building at 119 W. Water St., which now houses Herringbone Restaurant.
In a statement released by the commission, Outeast partner Stephanie Wach called the Wozelka House their “next diamond in the rough in historic downtown Edenton,” adding that preservation work is already underway and that the finished project will create two new commercial spaces.
A shift from residential to commercial
That announcement marks a notable change from what was discussed publicly just months ago.
On Dec. 22, 2025, when the Edenton Town Council approved an agreement with Southern Bank, they said the Wozelka property would remain residential. At the time, it was discussed that maintaining residential use was presented as a way to align with neighborhood character and address residents’ concerns about expanding commercial activity in the area.
In response to a Facebook user’s comment to the recent statement about the Wozelka House’s restoration, the Edenton Historical Commission noted the plan calls for the creation of commercial space — a shift that may reignite questions among nearby residents who previously expressed hesitation about additional business use in what has historically been a residential corridor.
The change comes as physical alterations are already visible elsewhere in the broader preservation effort. The Elizabeth Wozelka House’s roof, which had visible damage, is currently being replaced.
What’s going on with the Lane House?
The Wozelka agreement between the Town of Edenton and Southern Bank also included language that paved the way for the proposed move of the Lane House, the oldest house in North Carolina. During the council meeting, it was announced that the Penelope Barker Foundation, owners of the structure, planned to move the house from its location on East Queen Street to West Eden Street. The exact location wasn’t given at that time.
At the current site of the Lane House, on East Queen Street, two large crepe myrtle trees that once stood in front of the home have been cut down, and their stumps have been ground out — a visual signal that preparations for relocation may be advancing.
The March announcement included information on the transfer of property between the Edenton Historical Commission and Outeast Properties LLC. Due to the scarcity of vacant, unoccupied land on West Eden Street, the land transfer could allow Lane House to be relocated to 108 W. Eden St., the former site of a bank drive-thru that has been closed for several years.
Preservation with conditions
As part of the ownership transfer, Outeast Properties agreed to abide by several use restrictions established by both Southern Bank and the town, as well as a preservation agreement with the historical commission. Those conditions include protecting much of the home’s original interior woodwork and preserving a decorative painted ceiling in the dining room created by former Edenton artist Paul Olsson, according to the statement.
The commission framed the exchange of properties as a strategic move to protect historic assets while positioning both structures for viable futures.
Southern Bank’s original gift of the Wozelka House to the commission was described as an effort to ensure the building would not be lost to neglect or inappropriate development. The partnership with Outeast appears designed to carry that goal forward.
During the December council meeting, it was discussed that the agreement between the town and Southern Bank was to undergo substantial changes to make it more of a government document than a business agreement. As of the date of this report, there are no minutes for the special meeting where this agreement was approved. The Albemarle Observer was unable to find a copy of the modified agreement on the town’s website.
Questions moving forward
What remains less clear is how residents in the surrounding neighborhood will receive the building’s proposed commercial use and whether additional town approvals will be required to formalize the new direction. The Wozelka House is zoned conditional use – commercial neighborhood, and 108 W Eden St. is zoned as residential and is considered vacant land.
When the council first considered the agreement, discussions emphasized the importance of transparency, community input, and ensuring that any relocation or reuse respected both Edenton’s historic fabric and neighborhood stability. The commercial plan may prompt conversations about zoning, land use compatibility, and the long-term vision for this section of downtown.
For now, restoration has begun, and the Elizabeth Wozelka House’s future once again taking shape.
As work continues, the project represents both continuity and change: preservation of a historic structure, but with a purpose that appears to be evolving.
