UNC School of Government blog content from 2015 helps explain the ins and outs of why it's always risky to own land adjacent to a railroad (even old, abandoned tracks or swath where tracks used to be). When we downsized to a brand new condo development adjacent to the RR easement in downtown Durham (redeveloped site) in early 2020 little did we know it would be NC RR Company, not the trains, that might pose the greater long-term financial threat on our investment. Rent negotiations ongoing. Lesson learned.

Proprietor says NCRR easement dispute is putting fate of century-old building at risk

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston-Riggs

Published December 12, 2023 at 10:36 AM EST

The 100-year-old, recently renovated Shop Class building overlooks railroad tracks that send freight to and from the docks in Morehead City and North Carolina’s larger cities, on a path through New Bern – and it’s that rail line that has caused a problem for Shop Class owner Maurice Howland.

The owner of a New Bern business claims the facility is in jeopardy amid a dispute with North Carolina Railroad Company about a property easement.

HGTV hosts might describe the recently renovated Shop Class building as a meld of history and modernism, it’s brick exterior and arched window openings offset by shiny, newer corrugated metal and surrounded by black metal fencing and an electronic gate. Owner Maurice Howland said, “It's a 100-year-old…

The tracks run right behind my house on North Craven Street. When I moved in 16 years ago they asked me to sign a waiver as my fence was on their property. No problem. Fast forward to 2018- Florence. A huge tree from thier property fell on mine. I worked on them for 9 months before it was finally removed. I had to email them every other day. I made it clear I was not going away. They finally moved the tree but guess what? They revoked my original agreement/waiver. They re- fenced the area and forced me to move my shed. We also have constant worries about the increadibly toxic and dangerous things they are carrying through town. Lots of acids, etc. A derailment would be catastrophic. I wonder if there is any plan in place if that happens. Additionally, they do not keep their property up. The railro…

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