It is with excitement that the City of Burlington shares the news that 204 North Graham Hopedale Road, also known as the old Western Electric facility, was recommended to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places today by the National Registry Advisory Committee with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office.
The National Register of Historic Places designation is administered by the National Park Service and serves to recognize property with a significant impact on the Nation’s history. This designation also grants properties eligibility for state and federal historic tax credits which encourage historic preservation and can significantly bolster economic development.
The old Western Electric facility was also known as the Tarheel Army Missile Plant and was once the largest employer in Burlington. Originally a textile mill producing rayon, the Plant transformed into an aircraft factory to support the war efforts during the Second World War. It became best known for its production and testing of the Nike Missile Guidance System during the Cold War. Most recently, the property was home to Western Electric. In addition to the historical significance of the activity that happened on the property, three buildings in the complex were designed by the famous industrial architectural firm, Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.
The nomination of the Western Electric property for the National Register of Historic Places was initiated by the City of Burlington’s Planning Department. Not only will the designation help to protect the integrity of a place of historic significance in Burlington, but it has the potential to spur significant economic development. With this designation comes the possibility of federal and state tax credits totaling 45%.
“With the eligibility for up to 45% tax credits, comes a huge incentive for private developers to come into Burlington to rehabilitate this historic property and, at the same time, create a catalyst for economic development in an underutilized portion of Burlington,” says Senior Planner Daniel Shoffner.