SOUTHERN PINES LAND AND HOUSING TRUST
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Formed in 2009 under the leadership of Fred Walden. The primary purpose is to be an advocate to target support for the citizens of the West Southern Pines Community.
Reestablished in 2018 the goal of the Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust will continue with the original vision with the goal to maintain community-based traditions but create opportunities for economic growth for the citizens of West Southern Pines and surrounding areas.
Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust Board Members
Vincent Gordon, Board Chair
Retired Army Lt. Colonel who for the last 11 years was facilities manager responsible for leasing, building out and managing all 400 real estate properties of the US Census Bureau across the US and Puerto Rico.
Fenton Wilkinson, Board Member/Project Manager
Represented significant real estate developers doing downtown Seattle developments as an attorney with an LLM in tax working for a large Seattle law firm.
Bill Ross, Board Member
Retired US Army, Retired Employee Moore County School System
**Eugene Mason, Board Member
Retired US Navy, Former Adjutant, Rufus McLaughlin American Legion Post #177
**Oliver Hines, Board Member
Founder/CEO Citizens for Change
Tangella Upchurch, Board Member
Owner/Operator, Open Arms Daycare
**Renee Moody, Board Treasurer
Retired Insurance Executive
**Phyllis Jones, Board Member
Career Employee at Pinehurst Medical Clinic
Terry Jeffries, Board Member
Health Worker
Sherilla Horton, Board Member
Nora Bowman, Board Member
Career Banker and Finance Employee
Lynn Marshall-Linnemeier, Board Member
** These members represent the Class of 1969, the last graduating class of West Southern Pines High School which was the former West Southern Pines Primary School **
Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and donations are tax deductible.
PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY
In 1923 West Southern Pines became one of the first incorporated African American towns in North Carolina. The town had its own mayor, city council, and municipal services. In 1931 the Town of Southern Pines wanted to own the water from McDeed’s Creek which was in the Town of West Southern Pines so they had the State Legislature revoke the West Southern Pines Town Charter and immediately annexed it into Southern Pines. The Southern Pines Town Council couldn’t say that wanting McDeeds Creek was the reason for the revocation, so they made up three reasons that are all suspect by today’s standards. One “good” reason was “Negroes are incapable of governing themselves”. (Look in A LITTLE HISTORY section to view the minutes from the 1931 Town Council meeting.)
When Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust was formed its primary mission was to assist those citizens in West Southern Pines in the following ways:
Prevent the deterioration of the community by providing educational, technical, and financial services to low and moderate income land and homeowners.
To acquire abandoned, foreclosed or vacant homes and properties to redevelop, rehabilitate those properties.
A LITTLE HISTORY...
1931 Town Council Meeting Minutes
February 10, 1931
The Southern Pines Board of Town Commissioners Minutes.
The document describes the cancellation of West Southern Pines's charter.
SOUTHERN PINES PRIMARY SCHOOL
ACQUISITION PROJECT
Preservation and Legacy
Southern Pines Land & Housing Trust is achieving more with its community-based initiatives than ever before. The community directed plans for Southern Pines Primary School include a World-class Black Heritage Cultural Destination, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, great ethnic food and community access for meetings and gatherings, exercise and enjoyment of the open space.
Community support includes local civic organizations as well as corporate organizations
for the acquisition of the school.
West Southern Pines Civic Club
Rufus McLaughlin American Legion Post #177
WSP Citizens for Change
Trinity AME Zion Church
Town of Southern Pines Economic Development Task Force
Moore County NAACP
Sandhills Cooperation Association
Sandhills Community College
Moore County Partners in Progress
Arts Council of Moore County
Black Family Land Trust
USDA Rural Development
SOUTHERN PINES PRIMARY
A ROSENWALD SCHOOL
Conceived by Booker T Washington, founder of Tuskegee Institute in the 1910s persuaded Julius Rosenwald, the philanthropist and President of Sears , Roebuck & Co. to support the construction of schools for rural African-American children in the South. Julius Rosenwald created a fund that would provide matching funds with what the local community raising the funds necessary for the school. The deed for the West Southern Pines school in part state: " Now therefore this deed is given that said land may be conveyed and said conveyance placed of record as intended as between the grantors and grantee and for no other purpose whatsoever except that the said land and all profits in anywise ever arising therefrom in any manner shall be ever devoted to the use of negro education in and about the Town of Southern Pines and West Southern Pines in recognition of the fact that the money for the purchase of said land was raised by the Negros of said towns containing four acres, more or less." (Deed dated May 29, 1924)
Learn more about Rosenwald Schools
A CALL TO ACTION
A PROMISE TO KEEP
Key events to the acquisition of Southern Pines Primary School started in September 2018 with a presentation to the community regarding the closing of the area schools. In January 2020 Moore County School Board agreed to private negotiations with SPLHT. It was noted that by law Real estate or personal property can be sold to a nonprofit corporation or trust whose purpose include the preservation or conservation of real or personal properties of architectural, archaeological, artistic, cultural, historical, natural or scenic significance.
BLANCHIE CARTER PARK
Blanchie Carter Discovery Park is a four acre outdoor play and learning environment located at the former SP Primary School (Carlisle Street location).
In 1995, a group of parents decided that their children deserved more than a hot, dusty, barren, unsafe playground and initiated a process of transforming the area into an outdoor classroom where children could learn through play and investigation of living environments.
Over $150,000 was raised through donations from community, businesses, civic organizations and foundations.
1924 DEED
Quote from the 1924 Deed for West Southern Pines Rosenwald School
Grantors William F. Junge and Emma C. Junge, his wife
Grantee: Moore County Board of Education
Date May 23, 1924
... Now therefore this deed is given that said land may be conveyed and said conveyance placed
of record as intended as between the grantors and grantee and for no other purpose
whatsoever except that the said land or all profits in anywise ever arising therefrom in any
manner shall be ever devoted to the use of negro education in and about the Town of Southern
Pines and West Southern Pines in recognition of the fact that the money for the purchase of
said land was raised by the negros of said towns containing four acres, more or less.
PROPOSED LAYOUT
With this initiative, our goal is to promote great opportunities. Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust community-directed plans for the school include a World Class Black Heritage
Cultural Destination, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, great ethnic food and
community access for meetings and gatherings, exercise and enjoyment of the open space. With access to the right resources, people can become empowered by their own abilities and gain the confidence to fulfill their potential. Learn more about our work by getting in touch with Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust today.
THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Pure Professionalism
This dedicated team of experienced professionals
utilizing their unique skills and passion to move the work of our project forward.
Meet some of our incredible leaders below.
Southern Pines Land and Trust
Board Chair
Retired Army Lt. Colonel
US Census Bureau
Vincent Gordon
Vincent chairs the Southern Pines Land & Housing Trust with the vision and drive to continue the what was set by the organization's initial vision on developing the organization with experience and integrity.
Your continued support keeps the vision for the world class Black Heritage Cultural Center, the multipurpose community center closer to realization not only for the West Southern Pines Community but for all of Moore County.
A special thank you to some of these supporters for helping to create something great...
Duke Energy
Brownson Memorial
Andrew Hendry
First Bank
Harrington Chapel FWB Church
Emmanuel Episcopal Church Community Outreach
To donate by mail, please mail your check to 1650 W New York Ave, Southern Pines NC 28387
PayPal donations: Please fill out the form below.
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
Let's Create Something Great!
I wanted to take this opportunity to update supporters of the Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust acquisition project of the former Southern Pines Primary school. In its October regular business meeting, the Moore County School Board voted 5-2 in favor of selling the former Southern Pines Primary School to the Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust.
We are pleased to announce that the property contract and indemnification agreement have been signed by Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust and the Moore County School Board. Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust provided the earnest money and we have a closing date of December 30th.
We have also provided the Town of Southern Pines with the Service Level Agreement for the Blanchie Carter Park. Essentially the Trust will own the property, the Town will lease the park from the Trust, and the Trust will operate and maintain the park.
Once the Trust takes over ownership of the property, we will have new financial obligations in the immediate and near future. These expenses include environmental inspection, property insurance, and architectural design plans to begin repurposing the school site and existing buildings for the historical, cultural, educational, and business uses indicated on the site maps. The architectural plans are essential to help secure funding for large loans, grants, and potential donors.
We have brought this project a long way and met and defeated several forms of resistance. For many of the West Southern Pines residents there has never been struggle without sacrifice. This project to acquire this property took on not only the sacrifice in believing but the struggle to persist and meet the challenges head on.
Your continued support of this project is much appreciated. Please continue to communicate the importance of this project to friends, family and neighbors as fundraising continues for the Trust.
Thank you and God Bless,
Vincent R. Gordon
Chair
Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust
MEDIA CENTER
Here in our news section, you’ll find articles, opinions and the latest updates about the work Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust is helping to preserve and grow our community. The attention these articles draw is one of the best resources we have for educating the public to our cause. Take a look at our featured pieces below and let us know what you think about our efforts.
Trust's Vision Is Still Achievable
Contact
Southern Pines Land and
Housing Trust
1650 W New York Ave Southern Pines NC 28387
