Wilkesboro apartments must pass inspections or be demolished

The agreement, if signed in seven days, would be between the town and Joshua Glenn Crane of C&P Management LLC of North Wilkesboro, who owns the housing unit at 1018 River Street that currently shelters nine families.

Town Attorney John Willardson said that after the agreement is signed by both parties, the building will be subject to three separate inspections: by N-Focus Planning, which handles the town’s code enforcement; by the Wilkes County building inspector; and by the Wilkes fire inspector.

All three inspections will be paid for by Crane, who is also an officer in the N.C Highway Patrol, added Willardson.

After the inspections, Crane will then have 120 days to bring the complex into compliance with minimum housing standards. A second series of three separate inspections will then take place to ensure compliance has been met.

If the inspectors find the building to be in compliance, the matter will be resolved, but, if not, the complex must be vacated within a year’s time and then demolished, said Willardson.

Willardson noted that Crane can legally appeal any decisions to the town zoning board of adjustment, then to Wilkes Superior Court, then to the N.C. Department of Insurance code review board.

On Jan. 9, the council unanimously granted a 30-day reprieve for the condemnation of the housing unit so that Willardson could meet with Crane’s attorney, Jack Reeves, and establish the repairs needed for the unit.

The timeline of the building’s noncompliance with town code was established Jan. 9 by Andrew Carlton, director of planning and community development, and Bill Bailey, administrator of Kannapolis-based N-Focus Planning, which handles the town’s code enforcement.

Carlton and Bailey maintained that Crane had been made aware of the unit’s noncompliance since November of 2021 and was even given a 60-day extension to bring it into compliance by July 26, 2022.

Crane outlined a number of repairs already made at 1018 River Street and 200 South West Street, another of his properties subject to the condemnation hearing.

The house at 200 South West Street has no tenants and has been completely gutted and totally redone, with plans to convert it to a contemporary, upscale rental, said Crane on Jan. 9. The council removed the order to close this house on Monday.

Also on Monday, the council unanimously approved the establishment of the nonprofit “Friends of Wilkesboro” and accepted its board of directors: Nellie Archibald, Halee Ratcliff, Thomas Salley, Jim Smoak and Allison Phillips, with Claude Faw being an alternate board member.

The organization will take private donations and funds from SewerFest camping at the town’s wastewater treatment plant and make capital improvements at town parks and pay for other projects, such as refurbishing the fire department’s 1919 pumper truck called “Granny,” according to Town Manager Ken Noland.