Property Redevelopment

The architectural quality of North Wilkesboro's downtown is vital to the town's history, image, and economy. The overall appearance of downtown is significantly influenced by the condition of its buildings, which shapes the public's perception of the district as a whole. Therefore, the upgrading and preservation of North Wilkesboro's downtown is crucial to the continued livelihood of the district and its occupants. The DNWP, Town of North Wilkesboro, and NC Main Street Program want to encourage all downtown property owners interested in rehabilitating or redeveloping their historic property to utilize one or more of the opportunities described below.​

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​Historic Tax Credits

Federal and state rehabilitation tax credits create jobs, bolster the tax base, and revitalize existing buildings while preserving the state’s priceless historic character. These programs, administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO) in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), encourage the conservation and ongoing use of North Carolina’s historic built environment. 

Owners and developers may potentially receive a 20% federal income tax credit and a 15-25% state income tax credit for certified rehabilitations of income-producing historic structures. Find out more here.

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Secretary of the Interior's Standards 

​Technical Preservation Services (NPS) develops historic preservation standards and guidance on preserving and rehabilitating historic buildings. It administers the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program for rehabilitating historic buildings. It sets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Learn more about the standards here. 

​Grants and Incentives

The Town of North Wilkesboro and The Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership offer the following grants for eligible projects and properties within Downtown:

• Facade Grant Program - Application | Map of Eligible Properties | Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation 

• Mural Grant Program - Guidelines | Application 

• Free Design Renderings for Facades and Upper-Level Residential Spaces - Through a partnership with North Carolina Main Street and UNCG, the NC Main Street Program Fellows provide design assistance for storefront rehabs and the adaptive reuse of upper-story commercial spaces to downtown living apartments. These projects involve a mix of archival research, fieldwork documentation, and digital design work using various design software programs. ​

Contact Taylor Berry to discuss any of these grants or incentives. 

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Historic Property Listings Database​

To determine if your building is in our Nationally Registered Historic District, visit this website.