By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — After roughly 90 minutes of presentation, questions and answers, then discussion, Blowing Rock’s board of commissioners unanimously approved developer John Winkler’s application for conditional rezoning of the 3.35 acres encompassing the Green Park Inn from R-6M (residential, multi-family) to CZ-GB (conditional zoning-General Business), along with plans for a 40-room hotel (with restaurant and venue space), 12 condominiums, and eight cottages (two units per cottage).
Before the public hearing, Mayor Charlie Sellers recused himself because of his previous efforts to restore or renovate the Green Park Inn. Mayor Pro-Tem Doug Matheson assumed the lead role of the public hearing.
“We don’t have a blank check.”
Winkler, attorney Chelsea Garrett, and other members of the development team took great pains to acknowledge the historical nature of the existing property, expressing their desire to revive the “spirit” of the Green Park Inn during its heyday, but clearly stated that knowing what can be preserved of the original structure and reused is challenging until they can actually get their hands on it and take it apart. In addition, they emphasized that as much as they want to preserve the history, the final path going forward must make business sense.
“We don’t have a blank check,” said one of Winkler’s team members.
In summary, the plan is to remove sections of the hotel that were not part of the original structure and add back a larger restaurant and event (i.e. wedding) venue. This would reduce the number of rooms from the current 88 to 40 rooms. They aim to maintain and restore the historic lobby area and other parts of the main floor. Otherwise, according to the filing, “… the hotel sections to be demolished will be taken down carefully to salvage valuable materials for reuse on the property.”
The Green Park Inn greeted its first lodging guests in 1891, according to the business’ website. It was once considered a “hub” for activities in what was formerly the community of Green Park, including its own post office. Through the decades, its guests included the likes of Annie Oakley, J.D. Rockefeller, former U.S. presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover, as well Margaret Mitchell, who reportedly penned at least a portion of her book, “Gone With the Wind,” while a guest at the Green Park Inn.
“The best path forward is to rebuild it, re-create it, in as close to its current image as possible to the benefit of our community.”
While one speaker from the floor, local resident Linda Laughter, urged the commissioners to not approve anything that did not restore the original structure, others noted the grim reality that the building was beyond repair at any reasonable cost.
Local resident Chip Perry recalled that the Green Park was the first building he set foot in when he initially visited Blowing Rock more than two decades ago, realizing even then that it was in an antiquated, decrepit condition. He applauded the efforts of the development team to take on project.
“I don’t know much about the project other than what I heard at (the earlier, neighborhood meeting),” said Perry. “I don’t have any connection to the developers. I do care about the future of our town.
“It matters a lot to me that we continue the traditions, culture and quaintness of our village,” Perry added. “This particular building was the first place I ever stepped foot in 20 years ago when I came to Blowing Rock. I stayed there, upstairs. My take was… it is an historically important building but it was also quite decrepit. I think Mr. Winkler and his colleagues are correct in thinking it is impossible to economically restore it without spending all the money in Fort Knox. The best path forward is to rebuild it, re-create it, in as close to its current image as possible to the benefit of our community.”
“I believe… They will do the right thing.”
Full-time resident David Trahan, who said he had been in the real estate business for 60 years observed, “I really appreciate what you guys are doing. I have dealt with a lot of developers. The fact that you are trying to retain what’s there the best you can, economically… If it doesn’t work, economically, it is just going to sit there and eventually fall down. So the fact that you guys are willing to put your money on the table (is impressive). Thank you for giving us something that one day we can look back and say, ‘You know, that is as close as we could get.'”
Former general manager of the Green Park Inn, Lorry Mulhern, was the last person to speak from the floor.
“Anybody who is concerned about saving the Green Park needs to just look at that rendering,” said Mulhern, pointing to the image projected on the wall. “That is saving the grand dame. She needs it. I believe that John, Bill and Will do a good job but more than that, they will do the right thing.”
Before voting “yes,” Councilwoman Cat Perry self-described herself as an historical preservationist but, unlike old buildings that had been preserved and restored in Europe which she stated undergo more frequent renovations and restoration efforts, the Green Park Inn had not received that kind of meticulous attention over the 135 years it was in business.
Commissioner David Harwood moved to approve the application as presented but added conditions relating to parking and the percentage of window surfaces on the first floor. At one point during the discussion, he wondered aloud why Winkler and his team were so intent on keeping the finished property similar to the current white with green trim structure when it would be more economical to rebuild something more conforming to the town’s current building codes.
Memorial Park Improvements Advance
In other business, the proposed makeover of Memorial Park advanced, taking advantage of a state-offered PARTF grant of $500,000 that must be used by February 2026, according to town manager Shane Fox. What is referred to as “Phase 2” was put out to bid previously and the bids came back significantly higher than expected so the project stalled. When put out to bid more recently with some modifications to the specifications, this time the bids came back more in line with expectations.
Key elements of the Phase 2 project include new tennis courts, resurface pickleball courts that can also be used for half-court basketball, a new picnic shelter, a climbing wall, sidewalk along Wallingford Street, entrance to the park on Wallingford, shuffleboard and Gaga Ball (to find out more about this newer recreation activity, CLICK HERE — and it has nothing to do with Lady Gaga’s music!).
This time, the project received three bids:
- VPC Builders ($1,356,573)
- Mountain Crest LLC ($1,468,000)
- Brushy Mountain Builders ($1,510,000)
Presented with the low bid and adding a smaller contingency fund, Fox said the total budget for the project is $1.5 million. He told the commissioners that Staff’s preferred financing option was debt funding, but further advised that it should be folded into a modestly larger funding request for other proposed projects.
“We have the $500,000 PARTF grant, so $1 million is what is required of the Town,” said Fox. “Our recommendation is to move forward with approval of the (VPC) bid tonight because of the timing of construction. VPC has said if the bid is awarded tonight they will start construction within the next 30 days, which will allow for the project to be completed within the 2025 year, prior to the end of our PARTF grant, which expires in February 2026.
“That being said,” Fox added, “the one million dollars is proposed as a debt financing. We have spoken to our debt consultants and are working through some options to present potentially as soon as next month, but (more realistically) in April. I will present options for potentially including this with other acute needs we talked about at the retreat, including Main Street crosswalks, paving needs and sidewalk repairs.”
Fox explained that by packaging the Memorial Park project with other financing needs, the Town could obtain more favorable loan terms.
The motion passed, unanimously.
A Crosswalk Template?
Fox proposed using a sidewalk on Sunset Drive at Maple Street that is currently painted as a template for what the Town might install on Main Street intersections once the NC Department of Transportation completes its paving in the coming months. Fox explained that Watauga County Schools changed the release point for students (not being picked up by parents in cars) from the main Morris Street entrance to the Maple Street side of the building.
“So this crosswalk is used by far more than 100 students every day,” said Fox, suggesting that it be reconfigured and dressed up with pavers to make it stand out to drivers, enhancing pedestrian safety, similar to what has been proposed for Main Street.
After discussion, the Commissioners agreed on style, color and paver pattern.
Volunteer Board Appointments
The final item of regular business was to fill vacancies on the various volunteer advisory boards. The final appointments:
Planning Board
- Chris Squires (3-year term)
- Brandon Walker (3-year term)
- Tom Barrett (1-year term to fill current vacancy)
Board of Adjustments
- E. B. Springs
- Paul McGill
ABC Board
- Al Shackleford
Tourism Development Authority (TDA)
- Ali Borchardt
- Kevin Walker
In closing the meeting, all of the Town Council members expressed their appreciation for the good, well-organized work of the Town Staff and department heads for their work on the recent Winter Retreat held at the Blowing Rock Conference Center.
In his town manager report, Fox summarized:
- Main Street project technically done, Maple Street is complete.
- 221 will start in about a month
- FEMA – next meeting next Tuesday, Wonderland Trail is nearing completion; Valley View being put out to bid, working with FEMA
- Thanks to staff, Conference Center, McGill & Associates, and Town Clerk Hilari Hubner’s work behind the scenes for a successful Winter Retreat
- Thursday, Feb. 13, 5 p.m., Neighborhood meeting in Town Hall for the proposed Shoppes on the Parkway development project
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m.
