Success Stories
Brownfields agreements completed to date have resulted in more than $25 billion in committed private investment in the redevelopment of brownfields properties. Click on the project names to get summaries of the projects and public benefits that have occurred on land that would otherwise have remained abandoned:
Andale Facebook Data Center Project #14036-10-081
Forest City, Rutherford County
Located in Western North Carolina outside the small town of Forest City is a Facebook Data Storage Center - one of the few located in the country - that is made even more unique by the fact that it is a Brownfields Site. Sprawled across 140 acres, the Facebook Data Center occupies a site that was previously used by Burlington Industries as a textile facility from the 1970s through 1990s and then by Tracker Marine for boat manufacturing in the 2000s. When Tracker Marine closed its doors in 2008, the site became vacant and the historic contamination rendered it unattractive to potential purchasers. Through a Brownfields Agreement in 2012, the property was redeveloped into a state-of-the-art data center that houses thousands of servers and brought hundreds of IT and construction jobs to the Forest City area. Facebook is now the single largest tax revenue source for Rutherford County accounting for approximately 14% of the county’s revenue.
Rite Aid Project #20050-16-060
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County
Among Charlotte's most notable Brownfields properties is Camp North End - a site that has gained popularity in recent years, in part due to Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit that opened its doors in its historic Ford Building in the summer of 2021. Camp North End, also known as the Rite Aid brownfields property, was redeveloped in recent years into a sprawling multi-purpose campus that provides space for businesses, artists, restaurants, recreation, entertainment, and community events. This property boasts a rich industrial history, which includes the manufacturing of Model T Fords. Until 2016, it was used by Eckerd/Rite Aid for warehousing and distribution of commercial/retail items. For history buffs, art buffs and everyone else, this site offers a little bit of everything to enjoy.
Stones Warehouse Project #20044-16-092
Raleigh, Wake County
Located in downtown Raleigh off of Davie Street is Transfer Co. Food Hall, Raleigh’s newest food hall addition, which sits on top of a two-acre brownfields property. The property was vacant for more than a decade, except for the Rex Senior Health Center which operated out of its eastern building. It was historically operated by Stone’s Warehouse since the 1980s and was the home of Carolina Coach, a bus maintenance facility and other commercial businesses. In 2015, developers created new life along with this new community space while keeping a link to Raleigh’s history and the architectural style of the garage. Today, Transfer Co. Food Hall boasts a diverse collection of local vendors, food producers, and brewers for both Raleigh's locals and visitors.
Dillon Station Project # 18056-14-092
Raleigh, Wake County
The Dillon is one of the hottest spots in Raleigh Warehouse District. The former Dillon Supply Co. - a longstanding Raleigh business used for steel fabrication, a foundry, a forklift repair/maintenance shop, and other industrial operations - was transformed into a 17-story, $100 million office/retail/residential complex within walking distance of Union Station, CAM Raleigh and Junction West. With a nod to its past, The Dillon is a beacon of success for downtown Raleigh. Since it opened its doors in 2018, The Dillon has offered a number of exciting restaurants and shops for everyone to enjoy.
Venable Tobacco Project # 22048-18-032
Durham, Durham County
Venable Center, a brownfields site, is situated in the heart of downtown Durham down the road from American Tobacco Campus. The Venable Center retains its historic structures from when it operated as a tobacco processing company called the Venable Tobacco Company in the late 1800s – one of many tobacco facilities that operated out of Durham in the 20th century, but today one of the last historic structures remaining between the railroad tracks and the Durham Freeway. Additional buildings that were built in the early 1900s housed expanded tobacco wholesaling operations, dwellings, and a metal foundry. The three current structures onsite operated as a tobacco facility until 1985. In recent years the complex has been leased as a space for artists, flea markets, and an architectural salvage. Today, Venable Center is used as office space for a local independent newspaper, biotech companies, City of Durham, and the U.S Bankruptcy Court. In the upcoming months, developers will be breaking ground to begin construction to redevelop the surface parking area into a mixed-use structure that will include offices, multi-family residences, and a parking garage. Next time you’re in Bull City make sure to visit Venable Center and see a piece of the American Tobacco Campus’ namesake.
Water Street Deck Project # 19046-15-065
Wilmington, New Hanover County
Located along the Cape Fear River in Downtown Wilmington is a brownfields site known as Water Street Deck. Over the years, the property has been home to a variety of commercial and industrial purposes developed as early as the 1800s. The commercial operations included wholesale grocers and warehouses, a rice mill, cider, vinegar, liquor, and wine manufacturers. From 1951 until 1953, its southeast corner was occupied by a filling station. The property was then developed into a two-story public parking garage which, over decades of use and lack of maintenance, fell into state of deterioration. Thanks to a Brownfields Agreement recorded in 2016, the waterfront property is being redeveloped into a brand new mixed-use development that includes residential units, retail, parking and public thoroughfare for pedestrians.
