Pinehurst Receives $200,000 Grant to Help Renovate Historic Steam Plant
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The Village of Pinehurst has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the NC Department of Commerce’s 2011 Main Street Solutions Fund. The grant will be used to assist Railhouse Brewery renovate the historic steam plant building on Magnolia Road.
With a growing business and limited space, Railhouse Brewery, which is currently located in Aberdeen, took a look at the steam plant building as a possible site for relocation.
“The old steam plant has so much character that complements our business and has the space we need to expand our operations,” said Mike Ratkowski, co-owner of Railhouse Brewery.
Renovations to the steam plant should begin in the fall of 2012, with Railhouse Brewery opening its doors in Pinehurst in the spring of 2013.
“We would like to extend a big thank you to the Town of Aberdeen and our Aberdeen customers for the opportunity to establish Moore County’s first brewery,” Ratkowski said.
Assistant Village Manager, Natalie Dean, identified the Main Street Solutions Fund grant as a possible financial resource for Railhouse and completed the grant application that was filed in early January. “This grant makes the project financially feasible for Railhouse Brewery to acquire the steam plant building from Pinehurst, LLC and make the needed improvements,” Dean said.
As part of the project, the Village of Pinehurst will construct a portion of the public road called for on the steam plant site in the Village’s New Core Master Plan. The road construction will include off-street angled parking, brick sidewalks, street lighting, and landscaping.
The historic steam plant dates back to 1895 and is included as a contributing structure in the Village’s National Historic Landmark Designation. All improvements made to the building are required to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and the Village’s local historic district standards.
“We are very excited and optimistic about the opportunity to expand our operations in the Village’s historic steam plant and we look forward to working with Pinehurst to transform a vacant historic structure into something the community can be proud of,” Ratkowski said.
The $200,000 Main Street Solutions Fund grant was based on the number of new full-time positions added as a result of the project. Upon completion of the renovations, Railhouse Brewery will add eight full time positions to the local economy and the grant reimburses small businesses at a rate of $25,000 per full-time position, up to a maximum of $200,000.
The Main Street Solutions Fund’s purpose is to provide economic development planning assistance and coordinated grant support to designated micropolitans located in Tier 2 and 3 counties and to active North Carolina Main Street communities. The Village of Pinehurst is considered a micropolitan by the state’s standards, making the Village eligible to apply.
The grant program is intended to strengthen the local economy and its role as a regional growth and employment hub. This is accomplished by leveraging the state’s resources for small business development, spurring private investment, and providing economic development planning assistance and coordinated grant support.
The goals of NC Main Street Solutions Fund program are:
- To provide direct financial benefit to small businesses.
- To retain and create jobs in association with small business.
- To spur private investment in association with small business.
The steam plant renovation will be the first significant development to occur in the area identified in the New Core Master Plan that was originally adopted in 2005. That plan, which was developed with considerable public input, calls for the “adaptive re-use” of the historic steam plant.
“This project is exactly the vision for the New Core Area, which is now being referred to as Village Place. It includes the preservation of a historic building and the establishment of the first road to access the interior of the 19-acres studied in the New Core Master Plan. In addition, this project leverages state, local, and private investment in a way that should serve as a model partnership to facilitate local economic development,” Dean said.
For more on this story, please see Friday's print edition of The Pilot.
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Comments
Courseaire 1 year, 2 months ago
What makes steam historic?
eflat7 1 year, 2 months ago
I hate to see the Railhouse leave Aberdeen. In my opinion, being small and located in Aberdeen were half the appeal. I hope they do well.
Arestorer 1 year, 2 months ago
Im not going to say the first thing that came to my mind.........Im trying to get past that ailment.... Im glad for the Brewery is getting the grant.....Im going in the AM, to put in an application for 1 of those 8 jobs....Can you imagine working at a Brewery !!!! :) :) :o
ncsnafu1 1 year, 2 months ago
Hopefully, the Friday article on this project will also include reference that the items the Village of Pinehurst is providing the project currently have a budget amount of $252K. Also, the grant requires a matching contribution of $400K whose source has not yet been identified. Great to see that the Village Council values a brewery over the Given Library!
ncsnafu1 1 year, 2 months ago
@Arestorer: I wouldn't get too excited about the referenced eight positions as the article is wrong on this item. The grant language requires eight retained or new employees, not eight new. As such, the current employees (4-5) are included in the eight therefore making the number of new positions 3-4.
lester 1 year, 2 months ago
Just to correct an error in the reporting, Railhouse Brewery is not the first brewery in Moore County, and not even in Aberdeen. In the 1990's there was a brewery on Highway 211 near where A&R Railroad crosses the road. It was called ironically enough, The Pinehurst Village Brewery. They made several different brews. The name lived on long after the brewery ceased operations in the form of a bar at RDU's terminal C
ncsnafu1 1 year, 2 months ago
@wdd101st: I expect we'll see in the Friday article reference to either Resorts selling the building or forming a partnership with the brewery thereby making the grant from the village OK. Hopefully, we'll also see where the required $400K local matching grant is coming from. When you start to add the numbers it's easy to see that the village is financing about 80% of the development. Guess this makes the tax payers in Pinehurst majority owners of the project.
ncsnafu1 1 year, 2 months ago
@wdd101st: A better question is; when was the grant actually applied for as I believe the application was made 11/1/11 which was about a month before the council actually approvded the that application be made. Stand by as the village is not done bending over to get this project done as currently, the PDO language only allows a restaurant in the New Core zoning district. You can expect this little detail to also be thrown out by the council. Hope no one in Old Town that has a bar/restaurant realizes that their tax dollars are subsidizing the competition about a quarter mile away.
MLD206 1 year, 2 months ago
<p>@lester...I remember that brewery well and when it opened...was just a little before its time with the popularity of micro brewerys coming years later. I thought the name was something like Carolina brewery of something...or they brewed Carlona Ale or something, maybe it changed names or something at some point. I know it was a nice place with decent beer. I like railhouse and the location will be much better for them.eflat7 1 year, 2 months ago
Pinehurst Brewery had the Double Eagle Ale. THere were others but that is all I remember.
Easygoing 1 year, 2 months ago
Once again the taxpayers in Pinehurst are getting taken by this council. They are spending everyone's money like drunken sailors. When are the residents of Pinehurst going to start asking why this free spending change everything group is so bent on having their way and doing all these secret deals. This deal alone will cost the taxpayers at least $200,000 to $400,000 by the time they get done matching the grant and building out the road system to access the building. And did anyone notice they changed the zoning last month so that no parking places would be required for businesses in that small section of town. This was done in a quiet way so no one would notice. There is also talk they changed the sign ordinance so that the brewery could put a mural on the outside of the building. This all smells
ncsnafu1 1 year, 2 months ago
@Easygoing: You're correct wrt the mural on the side of the building. It will be interesting to see how the Historic Commission rationalizes the mural as being historic in character and approves it. The parking change the council just approved didn't really mention that the council was also approving a street, at a village expense of $252K, with 29 parking spots on it to satisfy the parking requirement for the bar.
kgirl 1 year, 2 months ago
thats the asbestos beer i've ever tasted....
tarheelborn 1 year, 2 months ago
Oh My GOD! I cannot believe the NEW VILLAGE COUNSEL ! ! ! ! ! What in the WORLD is Going on in Pinehurst! Don't you ELECTED and APPOINTED People know to check out these So Called JOB CREATORS???? PROMOTING A DRUNKEN BARHOUSE Right in the Beautiful Village!!!!!! DON'T YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF THAT PROBLEM, already??? You people are MORE than, well I'm so disgusted about all these backdoor deals ELECTED and APPOINTED Officials do in the Privacy of their Kitchens during BREAKFAST and dinner over WINE and BOOZE and Push all this Crap off on the CITIZENS! Where is the OUTCRY?????? If I remember correctly, the DRUNKEN OWNER of the,, "if you want to call it" an (ESTABLISHMENT) Aberdeen Drunken Bar was arrested for SERVING WHILE CONSUMING, THE PLACE was SHUT DOWN by the AUTHORITIES For TOO LOUD and OVER FLOW CROWDS! ! ! ! !
Also Destroying the AMBIANCE of Pinehurst with ROAD CHANGES, NATURAL RESOURCES, and the List Goes ON AND ON!
You SO CALLED ELECTED OFFICIALS, and I'll call you ALL out, (((DOUG LAPINS, JOHN STRICKLAND, JOHN CASHION, NANCY WHATEVER, MARK PARSONS and Every Other Elected and Appointed so called OFFICIALS I have Forgotten to mention))),,,, BETTER GET your HEAD out of your HINDSIDE, LISTEN and INFORM your Citizens, before you go out here BLOWING EVERYONE'S MONEY ON BOOZE BARS, Address the REAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUES of your FORMER BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE, and THINK, """ if you are capable of such a function""" or just RESIGN your elected jobs and let someone with at least a pee-on part of a brain resume your positions!
Pilot News, I'm sure you will delete this post. Heck you might even delete my account, but FOR GOD'S SAKE, (Literally), I cannot believe our places of worship don't protest to the streets of Pinehurst about this travesty!
oldtimer 1 year, 2 months ago
tarheelborn - you're up early this AM and apparently haven't had your meds yet. Might be a good idea. And for the rest of you naysayers, is there anything any elected body in this village, county, or state could ever do that fits your definition of responsibility? Get a life, please.
ncsnafu1 1 year, 2 months ago
@oldtimer: Look at this way, if you had almost $900K would you put it into a bar or would you help the Given Library? What's better for the community in total??
oldtimer 1 year, 2 months ago
@ncsnafu1: Ah, the guns vs. butter argument. In an affluent society, there is room for both. The Given Library needs will not be lost on the council, I am sure. My point was that irrational rants that focus on negatives (a lesson the Presidential candidates could heed) are not constructive and, in this case, may well be premature. Let's be wary of jumping to conclusions about how much and in what form the taxpayers will be "burdened" by renovation and revitalization of the steam plant. Councils past and current are rightly focused on the historic district and the proposed brewery is a unique and reasonable addition.
tomtr 1 year, 2 months ago
As owner operater of Railhouse brewery I would first like to ask that none of these comments be removed. We welcome all feedback positive and negative and will consider the concerns of everyone. We are excited about our move to the larger facility and are excited to be able to expand our brewing and distribution. As for the $400,000.00 match Railhouse brewery has secured the financing and is making the match themselves. As far as any criminal record, they are public, if you do a little research you will see that we were ticketed 3 times for violating a noise ordinance that is very generic and that the town is currently trying to change to meet the growing needs of Aberdeen. One charge has been thrown out and the other two are being delt with accordingly.That is the extent of my record, not even a speeding ticket in the last 10 years. As for overflow crowds , we have never been over our occupancy which is only 83.If anyone has any concerns or question I would be more than happy to answer them. My number is 910-783-5280
Arestorer 1 year, 2 months ago
tomtr13 minutes ago;; Thanks for your responce...Im glad to see more small business's opening...I think they are really the back-bone of our economy...As for the others complaining about your brewery,, Their part of the same ones that wanted the Corporate stores to move in the area....Ill take small private establishments over huge concrete jungles..
Oh yea,Is your screen name suppose to be "tomato"," tow-motor","tom terific" or what??
And, I would like a job !!
Courseaire 1 year, 2 months ago
Plus, Railhouse had to move from Aberdeen because of Aberdeen's Chicken Ordinance so they could serve fresh eggs with the brew.
tomtr 1 year, 2 months ago
its my middle name and initials. lol
Arestorer 1 year, 2 months ago
tomtr; A question for you,if you have time or if its not off-limits... Who approached whom,about your company occupying the building ??
Courseaire 1 year, 2 months ago
Now looka here, it was the chickens, I say, I say.
Arestorer 1 year, 2 months ago
Courseaire Legghorn,I say, Boy u aint right...
SoPinesNo1 1 year, 2 months ago
tarheelborn - You posted on another article this morning and your post showed that you knew nothing about water in this area, now this one shows you know nothing about beer!
cantstandya 1 year, 2 months ago
tomtr, About how many jobs will this project upon completion offer,I would think that it will benefit many and also exspand the tax base, some just get stuck in their tracks and will not be moved but seems like it will preserve some part of the past,good luck.
rpbarry1 1 year, 2 months ago
Mike, great job on the grant. Hater's are everywhere. The ones on this string, HATE EVERYTHING. Its really hard to identify what they stand for.
AFCHIEF 1 year, 2 months ago
@TOMTR, count me in as a future patron. I enjoy meals and beers at all of the Pinehurst restaurants and visit them all to spread the $$$
razooks 1 year, 2 months ago
Wow!!!!!!!
hopeful 1 year, 2 months ago
Wishing Railhouse Brewery all the best! A lot of blood, sweat, and beers went into this endeavor. I look forward to your new place. I can't believe people are on here chastising turning an abandoned building, that of which is an eyesore in your precious village, into a thriving business, also that of which has already proven itself to be a very lucrative endeavor. Unless you have any other brilliant ideas I say pipe down, and wish these folks well! Cheers!
cantstandya 1 year, 2 months ago
This might even be the start of a taxi service need in this area for those that may consume more than they care to drive home on their own,who knows what doors it will open many other cities have this type services and everyone prospers and enjoys the liberty of knocking back a few and feeling confident they will not have to get behind the wheel.
PaleRider 1 year, 2 months ago
Congratulations Railhouse Brewery! Great job working with the good people of Pinehurst, LLC and the Village of Pinehurst to preserve one of the original buildings of the Village and help start the renewal of an area of Pinehurst that needs some sprucing up. Longtime observers of Village government will recall that the late Mayor Steve Smith always wanted a brew pub in this very building, he said as much when working on plans for this area. Here's to good times in the new restaurant and brewery for locals and visitors. I plan to watch the 2013 ACC basketball tournament there!
DoubleHeroides 1 year, 2 months ago
@wdd101st I definitely should not be doing this because I can’t speak for the Railhouse Brewery (can’t say I have ever even visited the establishment) but I can’t help myself, I’m a commenter on the Pilot.
1) The article states above that Ms. Natalie Dean stated that the grant “makes the project financially feasible for Railhouse Brewery to acquire the steam plant building from Pinehurst, LLC…” Once can assume then that Railhouse is not currently the owner. One can also assume that a business would not move forward towards a new building without some understanding that they will be able to occupy the space (All we have heard the last few years good, bad or indifferent is that the small business man is supposed to be smarter than the government remember?) Further, the date that the paperwork was submitted seems hardly relevant either. There are deadlines for grants and since the grant was approved I happily assume it was turned in on time. Big deal. 2) The town council is not spending any of the money in the town coffers. The grant is from the Department of Commerce, which yes, is ultimately the tax money of all of us but since the town has zero authority over the granting and spending of this money other than asking nicely for it in the grant application seems as though the only hearing that could have been done was by the Department of Commerce, not the Village. Further, it sounds to me like this is an existing program that has been around for a while and helps small towns keep their main streets vibrant and alive instead of dead and empty as a result of the Wal-Marts and other big box stores. Doesn’t sound like a bad investment of my tax dollars to me. (besides, by us not getting the grant the money just doesn’t disappear back into the general fund for the state or put towards schools or roads, someone else somewhere else gets the money and revitalizes their downtown) 3) See the first half of the answer to Number 1 above.
I understand you are trying to be a good citizen and ask questions of your government which we should all do however I think there may be some misunderstandings related to what this grant is, what it does, where the money is coming from and what the process was for getting funding.
ncsnafu1 1 year, 2 months ago
@DoubleHeroides: You might think that the council is not spending any money from the town coffers; however, consider the following. The council just did a budget transfer of $25K from the Fund Balance to cover the cost of engineering the street/parking. The council further intends to spend in the next village fiscal year $252K for the street/parking actual construction making it a total of $272K the village is spnding on this project. Also, the initial road planning and cost for New Core was to be borne by the Master project developer and not the village. The current argument that the village was always going to pay for the roads in New Core is totally inaccurate. If you look at the tract of land the brewery is on you'll see that there was no way that the brewery could have provided the necessary parking spaces (29) which is why there have been recent PDO changes that allow the village the ability to do the work and pay for it while attempting to BS everyone it was always to be a village expense.