By Karen Lilly-Bowyer

I was very pleased to read that the Franklin Smith House was granted Salisbury Landmark designation. With its massive style, it is the only home in Salisbury that would be classified as Spanish Mission by the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office. Salisbury City Council adopted the state landmark designation statute in 2013. The landmark program was adopted by other N.C. cities such as Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh plus many smaller cities years before Salisbury jumped on the bandwagon. The reason other cities adopted this program is because it has proven that it improves the local economy through tourism.

During the Sept 3 council meeting, councilman David Post spoke of his concern that the tax deferment for the designated properties would become a financial burden on the city. Mr. Post stated that the tax burden amounts to a quarter of a million dollars. What he failed to mention is that the amount stated is for a 10-year period. He also failed to mention that many of the property owners have already spent more than $250,000 preserving their property, and the money was spent locally.

The program is not a drain on tax dollars. The city budget this year was $108,695,411. The cost of the landmark tax deferments was approximately $21,000. That amounts to .019 of one percent of the budget. I can understand Mr. Post’s concerns for his constituent’s tax dollars, but the minuscule amount for landmarks is not a drain.

How many tax dollars have gone to businesses that come to town, hire a few people at low wages and then leave town when their tax incentives run out? How many tax dollars are spent to keep all city employees working during the Cheerwine Festival? How many tax dollars will be spent to add sidewalk extensions to the four blocks north and south of the town square. Those sidewalk extensions will add to the already cluttered downtown streets that are unpassable when a FedEx truck or other supplier has to park in the middle of the street to deliver packages to a local merchant. As noted at an earlier council meeting, several N.C. towns tried this plan, but removed the extensions after a few years because they were a deterrent to downtown business. Over the years, the council has added many new “exciting plans” that we have all lived to regret. Why not spend tax money on a program that preserves our history and brings money into our community?

Mr. Post stated that hundreds of houses in Salisbury could qualify for the landmark program. As I am sure he knows, that simply isn’t true. The requirements for landmark designation are very stringent, and completing the necessary paperwork takes an inordinate amount of time. Charlotte/Mecklenburg combined has had the program since the 1980s. They have 375 properties designated. Mr. Post stated that the Smith house would be the last house he would ever vote for as a landmark. The city attorney stated that Mr. Post could vote against landmark designations as long as his vote was not arbitrary. How can saying no to future houses that have not been presented be more arbitrary?

Karen Lilly-Bowyer lives in Salisbury.