Graham’s city council approved a rezoning of a 1.5-acre parcel along NC 54 at the interstate for commercial use. The location is at the corner of East Harden Street (NC 54) and Riverbend Road, about a block from I-85/40.
In a January interview with The Alamance News, the property owner revealed that a “high end retail” customer, a national restaurant chain, was interested in the property.
The property, now owned by G. Travers Webb, III who lives across the street from the site, has been zoned for multifamily use. That zoning designation was made in order to allow the Elevate 54 apartment complex to be constructed on the back side of the property.
“I think we have enough multi-family,” said council member Jennifer Talley in support of the rezoning request. With little discussion, the rezoning was approved unanimously by the city council.
Prior to its development, the formerly wooded property was the home place of long-time Graham physician Dr. Clinton Crissman and had been owned by his descendants prior to Webb’s involvement and the subsequent development into apartments by Signature Properties of Greensboro.
In January, in discussion with the planning board, Webb described the reason for the rezoning request as to “allow for marketing my property for future development.” Webb told the planning board that a large commercial company is interested in the site. “It’s one of their favorite spots,” he described to the board. In a subsequent interview with The Alamance News, he said a national restaurant chain was interested in the property.
The planning board voted unanimously, 6-0, in January to recommend the general business rezoning (B-2) for the acre-and-a-half lot. The city council vote Tuesday night was also unanimous, 5-0, for the rezoning.
