News Flash

The Historic Resources Commission is soliciting public comments on a proposal to create a Downtown Winston-Salem Historic District and place it on the National Register of Historic Places. Comments will be accepted when the commission considers the nomination during its meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, in Room 530 of the Bryce A. Stuart Municipal Building, 100 E. First St., Winston-Salem.

The proposed district is bounded on the east by Chestnut Street and on the west by Broad Street. The northern boundary would be Sixth Street between Cherry and Broad streets, and the southern boundary would be First Street between Church and Spruce streets.

If the district were created, property owners within the district would have access to federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits. Creation of the district would not impose any restrictions on what property owners can do with their property. 

The proposed district represents the historic commercial core of the city and included the headquarters for such prominent Southeast corporations as the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Hanes Hosiery, Hanes Knitting and Wachovia Bank.

Later it was significant as the site of civil rights demonstrations that prompted Winston-Salem to become the first city in North Carolina to desegregate its lunch counters and restaurants in 1960.

To read the National Register nomination form, go to CityofWS.org/1430 and click on the National Register Nominations link.