Sanford Central Green
About
Sanford City Council is committed to the Sanford Central Green community greenspace concept, which has been shaped through years of public input about how downtown could best serve the Sanford community.
Council's vision includes but is not limited to:
- Obtaining and transforming the available area from Charlotte Avenue to Weatherspoon Street between the railroad tracks and First Street, keeping it in the public realm.
- Anchoring the campus with the Sanford Agricultural Marketplace on one end and the Sanford Municipal Center on the other.
- Restoring Little Buffalo Creek to its natural winding path to minimize flooding.
- Restoring/renovating historic structures for innovative uses, such as a mobility hub for ridesharing services and facilities for public use.
- Expanding the City's walkability with a greenway connector through the campus.
The goal for this project is to transform downtown Sanford and create a foundation for a variety of potential public uses, including festivals, public art displays, youth activities, and more.
Funding
Municipal staff are actively pursuing grant funding for Sanford Central Green projects. The following funding is in place:
- $2.8 million committed by Sanford City Council in funds made available through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- $1.6 granted for the Sanford Agricultural Marketplace.
- $1.1 million granted for the Little Buffalo Creek restoration project.
Real Estate
The City has been purchasing the real estate necessary to complete the Sanford Central Green transformation. Real property obtained by the City includes:
- Area of N. First Street - Purchased in early 2000s to address flooding and prepare for a greenway.
- King Roofing building - Purchased in 2015 and demolished in 2023 to make way for Sanford Agricultural Marketplace.
- Homes along First Street - Purchased in 2016 and used as controlled burns for firefighter training.
- Love's Grocery Store building - Purchased in 2017 and demolished in 2018.
- Singer building - Purchased in 2023.
Owning these facilities allows the City more flexibility in determining the best use for the properties.
Related Projects on the Hub
Renderings of Sanford Central Green by ADW Architects:
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Real Estate Acquisitions
Area of N. First Street
King Roofing building
103-113 N. First Street
Important Dates
$900,000 Federal Transit Authority awarded for transit oriented development planning
The Federal Transportation Administration awarded NCDOT $900,000 to plan for transit-oriented development at 13 stations along a proposed passenger rail corridor between Sanford and Henderson, connecting rural and urban communities in the Triangle region.
$1.1 million granted for Little Buffalo Creek Restoration Project
The North Carolina Emergency Management Disaster Relief and Mitigation Fund notified the City of Sanford that its grant application for restoring Little Buffalo Creek had been selected for award.
$1.6 million granted for the Sanford Agricultural Marketplace
The project received grant funding from Pilgrim’s, the Tobacco Trust Fund, North Carolina Rural Transformation Grant Fund, and Farm Bureau Insurance.
$3.4M RAISE grant awarded for Regional S-Line Mobility Hub Plan
NCDOT received $3.4 million in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant funding to support the planning and preliminary design of mobility hubs in Apex, Franklinton, Henderson, Norlina, Sanford, Wake Forest, and Youngsville.
$2.8 million committed for Sanford Central Green concept
Sanford City Council committed ARPA-enabled funds to create a multi-use community green space anchored by the marketplace to serve as a connector between a future downtown mobility hub and the Sanford Municipal Center.
$10.4 million Rural Surface Transportation Grant awarded to pilot microtransit service
NCDOT included Sanford and 10 other communities in a grant to pilot an on-demand microtransit service. NCDOT's Integrated Mobility Division, consultants, and local staff are researching the most effective options for implementing the program.
Potential $33 million Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant
NCDOT applied for $33 million in Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant funds for the construction of a mobility hub in Sanford.