Request to tear down former fitness club buildings up for review

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 9, 2013

SALISBURY — Integro Technology is moving forward with plans to demolish two buildings to make way for a new headquarters in the 300 block of South Main Street.
Integro architect Gray Stout will request certificates of appropriateness at 5:15 p.m. Thursday to demolish the buildings at 313 and 319 S. Main St. — the old GX Fitness club and an office building — and construct a $4 million headquarters at the corner of East Bank and South Main streets.
The city’s Historic Preservation Commission, which issues the certificates, will hear Stout’s requests at City Hall, 217 S. Main St.
City Council on Tuesday approved a seven-year economic incentive grant for Integro, which will buy the two old buildings and the Salisbury Rowan Farmers Market parking lot from the city for $250,000. The city will be responsible for demolition and site preparation.
Integro plans to build a 41,800-square-foot headquarters and move from its current location on North Lee Street by Dec. 31, 2014.
The city is considering borrowing $8 million on behalf of the Rowan-Salisbury School System to build a new school central office at the other end of the 300 block of South Main Street, one of the reasons Integro wants to construct its headquarters there.
The farmers market is moving from the block, but it’s not clear yet where.
Also on Thursday’s agenda:

• David Loflin, owner of Thread Shed Clothing at 133 S. Main St., will request a certificate of appropriateness to place balusters in parking lot spaces to allow cars to go through only two openings, which could be chained if needed.
• Louie Mourouzidis, owner of Ethos restaurant at 118 N. Main St., will request a certificate of appropriateness for an outside walk-in cooler.
• Livingstone College will request demolition in the National Register District at 802 W. Monroe St., a home that was turned into apartments and then abandoned.
Last month, the Historic Preservation Commission approved a request to build a 648-square-foot addition at Henderson Independent High School to house a culinary arts program, as well as a request to replace 310 windows at the Yadkin House.
Windows on the first floor must be wood, the commission said. Others may be vinyl.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.