Bridge to be named after Montgomery

Montgomery passed away on March 15 after contracting COVID-19. He was 50.

“Master Trooper James ‘Brent’ Montgomery served honorably with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in Vance, Warren and Franklin counties for 15 years,” said City Manager Terrell Blackmon at the meeting.

Council members voted unanimously in support of the resolution, but the process isn’t quite done yet. The N.C. Department of Transportation handle the rest.

Housing

At the same meeting, the council voted to pass a resolution that authorized staff to begin a project to construct more affordable housing.

Officials identified 14 lots in northern Henderson that would work. The idea is to negotiate with builders and designate the lots as having affordability conditions — covenants and conditions created by city staff would ensure that the lot is used for affordable housing. Resales must be to people of low or moderate income, else the property returns to the city. The market value of those lots would likely be reduced as a result.

“I love this CAF…” said Councilwoman Melissa Elliot. “I think that we should think across the board for all populations, and I think we fail the community when we don’t do that.”

In order to attract population growth in our community, she said, Henderson needs housing for people in all populations.

The motion to approve passed unanimously.

There were two other housing related items — council members voted to demolish a home at 412 Owen Street. Owner Rosa Moya did not comply with an order to repair or demolish the property, which has been vacant for years, half-demolished and in a state of dilapidation, as described by Development Services Director Corey Williams.

Council members voted to demolish another property — a duplex at 707 and 709 Roberson Street which suffered fire damage back in 2021.

Williams noted that all proper procedures have been followed in the process of getting the two aforementioned properties removed.