Why Choose Realtor® Greg Rapp?

Welcome to Salisbury, Mr. & Mrs. Goetz!

Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 

Why Choose Historic Preservation for Your Next Home or Business Location

On May 19, 2014, the Salisbury Post published this article written by Catherine Garner:

True or false: Historic buildings are always money pits and fixing them up never does any good, except by making a dilapidated building look less ugly?

False! Historic preservation, and in particular, the rehabilitation of historic buildings, results in significant positive financial impacts to the economy at the federal, state and local levels.

In fact, in a report published by Preservation North Carolina, the state’s preservation non-profit organization, the North Carolina Historic Tax Credit program in combination with the federal rehabilitation incentives generated $1.36 billion dollars in project expenditures on just over 2,100 rehabilitation projects since 1998 across North Carolina alone.

How is this possible? According to Donovan Rypkema, a real estate and economic development consultant who specializes in the economic impact of historic preservation, new construction cost is generally half materials and half labor expenditures. However, in rehabilitation projects, 60 to 70 percent of project expenditures are labor and the rest is spent on materials.

When materials like sheetrock, shingles or HVAC equipment are purchased, the materials themselves do not generate any additional money, they simply remain and operate in their own vacuum. Yet, when we spend money to purchase services and labor, we hire our community members and neighbors — the plumbers, electricians and contractors. The laborer then spends the money paid to him or her on other goods and services needed, which continues to pump money into our economy and keeps those dollars circulating.

Furthermore, Rypkema has found that $1 million spent on new construction generates on average 30.6 jobs, whereas $1 million spent on rehabilitation creates 35.4 jobs, almost five more jobs per million invested. If a community chooses to spend $1 million dollars on rehabilitation, five to nine more jobs will be created, 4.7 jobs will be created elsewhere in the community because the newly hired or paid workers will spend money and community household incomes will rise — increasing throughout the community by over $100,000 on average.

In fiscal year 2012, the National Park Service, the national office for historic preservation, found that through the $3.15 billion spent by the federal government in tax credit incentive projects, approximately 57,783 new jobs were created in the United States. The numbers do not lie — preservation makes economic sense.

What about the impact in North Carolina? Since 1998, federal and state rehabilitation tax credits have encouraged over $1.36 billion dollars in private investment in North Carolina alone. This private investment in combination with the tax credit incentives has created more than 20,000 new full-time jobs.

Not considering the post-rehabilitation impacts, such as tourism, the income-producing rehabilitation tax credits create an estimated $12.5 million dollars in gross domestic product (GDP) per year in North Carolina, which generates about 300 new jobs each year.

Even more impressive are the Mill Rehabilitation Credits, a larger incentive package for the rehabilitation of old textile mills and factories in North Carolina. The Mill Rehabilitation Credits generate $30.4 million in GDP per year for North Carolina and generates 600 new jobs, and that’s just the beginning.

Rypkema makes a very compelling point about the economics of historic preservation by noting that historic preservation and downtown revitalization are the only forms of economic development that also develop the community at the same time.

Reinvesting in our community’s buildings and workers not only boosts the economy, but it creates jobs for our fellow community members and makes the community a more attractive and functional place.

Have you ever thought about taking on a rehabilitation project? No matter how large or small, you’ll not only be doing right by the building you save, but you’ll be doing right by your community and making a measurable difference in the economy, and that’s something worth putting your money toward!

Catherine Garner is a planner for the City of Salisbury.

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On Thursday, May 22, 2014, the Historic Salisbury Foundation will recognize REALTOR® Greg Rapp for his preservation efforts in the marketing and selling historic homes and commercial buildings, sustaining historic preservation and the rehabilitation of historic buildings here in Rowan County, North Carolina, helping to create significant positive financial impacts to the economy in this community.

Are you interested in reinvesting in a community?  Why not here, in Rowan County?  Call Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846 and we'll get the wheels turning for you!

Greg Rapp

Wallace Realty Co.

704 213 6846 Mobile

704 636 2021 Office

www.realestatesalisbury.net

The Historic 1893 Mary Steele Scales House ~ For Sale ~ $144.9K!

Note (10/15/2014): This home is now priced at $119,900. Call Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846 for more info. 

The Mary Steele Scales House, circa 1893, in 1987

Salisbury's historic Mary Steele Scales House, circa 1893, is for sale!  These photos depict the meticulously restored home as it appeared in 1987 when it was featured in the Historic Salisbury Foundation's annual October Tour of Historic Homes.

This wonderful 2089~square foot Victorian, is the last 19th century house built by the descendants of General John Steele on his once extensive plantation, 'Lombardy'. In 1983, the great-granddaughter of Steele, Mary Steele Scales, erected this picturesque Victorian just south of the original Steele house (circa 1799, still standing at 1010 Richard Street ~ walk two blocks north on N. Lee/Richard Street to The John Steele House). Restoration began in 1984 by Dr. Peter Dixon and was completed in 1986 by renowned Salisbury preservationist Edward Clement (present owner of the John Steele House).

The Historic Mary Steele Scales House ~ pictured here in 1987 ~ for sale at $149K

The home, at the corner of E. Steele Street and N. Lee Street, is in immaculate condition, freshly painted, with an amazing property with outbuildings, a large garden gazebo, and mature landscaping ~ all encircled with white picket fencing.

The Mary Steele Scales House ~ 126 E. Steele Street, Salisbury NC ~ today. 
Call 704~213~6846 to make an appointment for a showing!

The historic Mary Steele Scales House is for sale, listed with Greg Rapp of Wallace Realty, for $144,900 ~ and will not rest on the market long! Call Greg very soon at 704.213.6846 to view this fabulously restored antique home for yourself. Greg Rapp is the premier seller of historic properties in Rowan County, North Carolina, and this house is one of the more special properties to have hit the market ~ you won't believe the value of this vintage house and picture-perfect property ~ the pride of the historic North Main Neighborhood. Call today!

Salisbury ~ The Downtown Series

Stay tuned for Greg Rapp's "Salisbury ~ The Downtown Series", an upcoming series here at www.realestatesalisbury.net, highlighting commercial properties available in historic downtown Salisbury, North Carolina! 

There are many reasons to position your business in downtown Salisbury.  One is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!  Located centrally in the Piedmont of North Carolina, Salisbury is dissected by Interstate-85 between the cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte.  An Amtrak station drops off your customers and clients off in the beautifully restored historic Salisbury Depot.  Additionally, Salisbury offers:

• Local shopping 
• Greatest collection of gift and antique shops in Rowan County
• Three specialty beer and wine shops
• Independent coffee shops, bookstores, pharmacy, and more
• Buy Local: 
• Shoppers can buy almost anything made locally in Salisbury’s local stores, boutiques, wine shops, gift shops, and studios 
• Wonderful restaurants and food choices
• Best collection of local restaurants in the county
• Healthy, locally grown food at the Farmer’s Market
• Delicious desserts, including homemade ice cream
• A variety of opportunities to meet people
• Coffee shops and bars
• Live entertainment at the wine shops and coffee shops
• Genuine Southern Hospitality, fantastic and interesting people
• History you cannot find anyplace else
• Ghost Walk
• Civil War history
• The historic train collection at the Transportation Museum
• Cemeteries with the most fascinating historic markers in the southeast
• Great architecture: 1825–1950; one of the very best collections of a variety of styles in the southeast
• Unique and dynamic artistry
• Revolving sculpture show that changes every year
• Original public art
• Entertainment: live, local, year round 
• Three performing arts venues with a variety of openings
• Friday Nights Out, Pops at the Post, Blues & Jazz Festival, Brick Street Live, CHICKWEED
• Live music, including original and cover bands from around the country and the pops symphony
• Places to celebrate:
• Receptions, meetings, wine tastings can be held in a variety of places in the downtown area.
• Many opportunities to give back to the downtown community:
• Get recognition for your business by giving back to your downtown community or nonprofit agencies. Volunteer at Rowan Helping Ministries, Waterworks Visual Arts Center, Piedmont Players Theatre, The Lee Street Theatre, Rowan Museum, and so many others.

Salisbury Realtor Greg Rapp will be presenting "Salisbury ~ The Downtown Series" highlighting downtown properties in coming weeks that will give you access to all the amenities that are downtown Salisbury ~ a must for your business to take advantage of~~!  Stay tuned!  Need to talk to Greg now about a potential property?  Call 704.213.6846.

Office Space Available Near Rowan County Courthouse ~ $450/month!

112 E. Council Street ~ $450/month

Need office space in the heart of Downtown Salisbury?  Nestled in a historic building just a block from Main Street and the Rowan County Courthouse, 112 E Council Street in Salisbury, North Carolina, has 750 square feet of commercial space divided into two small offices, a reception area, and a single bathroom. This brick and iron façade space is within walking distance to city and county offices, and courthouse.  112 E. Council Street is around the corner from the City of Salisbury’s new ‘one-stop shop’ for permits, licenses, and plan approvals for people who want to open or expand a business in Salisbury. Located at 132 N. Main St. on the first floor of the City Office Building, the new hub opens this fall and will include planning and zoning, business licensing, engineering, water and sewer utilities services, as well as the fire marshal. The one-stop shop will help owners and developers navigate the design review and permitting processes. Among other services at the one-stop shop, people can request rezoning and special use permits, get a business license, and undergo review for site plans and construction documents and blueprints.

Historic Rowan County Courthouse

The lease for 112 Council Street is a mere $450/month, quite unusual for office space in such a prime location in the heart of the downtown historic district, near shops, art galleries, restaurants, and many legal offices.  Current neighbors are an antiques shop, a computer-repair shop, an architect office, a popular Chinese restaurant, and several legal offices. The Salisbury Police Department is around the block.

Location ~ Location ~ Location!

112 E. Council Street is around the corner from the City of Salisbury’s new ‘one-stop shop’ for permits, licenses, and plan approvals for people who want to open or expand a business in Salisbury. Located at 132 N. Main St. on the first floor of the City Office Building, the new hub opens this fall and is to include employees from planning and zoning, business licensing, engineering, water and sewer utilities, and the fire marshal. The one-stop shop will help owners and developers navigate the design review and permitting processes. Among other services at the one-stop shop, people can request rezoning and special use permits, get a business license, and undergo review for site plans and construction documents and blueprints.

112 E. Council St (left) Street View

Incorporated in the 1750s, Rowan County has today an estimated population of approximately 134,000 residents and it is located adjacent to Davie, Stanly Iredell, Davidson, and Cabarrus Counties. The City of Salisbury, home of more than 34,000 people, is the county seat.  Rowan County envelopes eleven cities and fourteen townships in this territory of more than 520 square miles, including Kannapolis, Faith, Rockwell, Atwell, Spencer, China Grove, Morgan, and Unity. The population of the City of Salisbury, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Census Bureau, has grown by over 27% since the year 2000, outpacing general State of North Carolina population growth by nearly 9%.

If office space in an unbelievably prime location at only $450/month is what you’ve been looking for, contact Greg Rapp at Wallace Realty today ~ 704.213.6846. You won’t be sorry!

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Pops-at-the-Post ~ Saturday June 2nd ~ A Completely Free Community Event

Pops-at-the Post, featuring the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony, is an annual outdoor concert at sundown ~ A completely free community event!

Where: The Salisbury Post loading dock, 131 W. Innes Street, Salisbury, NC. View Map

When: Pops-at-the-Post is hosted annually at 8 p.m. the first Saturday of June.

What makes Rowan County, North Carolina special? Many fun events and festivals allow visitors to experience the community throughout the year. From "Friday Night Out", "Brick Street Live concert series", "Art on Easy Street", Faith's "Fourth of July Festival," "October Tour", "Rowan Jazz & Blues Festival", "Pops-at-the-Post,"  and more, the festivals of Rowan County bring visitors from near and far. Festivals in Rowan County have become synonymous with the celebration of the arts, entertainment, history, community, and family.

A festival that has become tradition in Rowan County is "Pops-at-the-Post." In the heart of Salisbury, NC, nearly 4,000 people come annually to the parking lots behind The Salisbury Post Loading Dock in Downtown Salisbury. At sunset, the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Orchestra, with conductor David Hagy, provide a free concert to the community. Food vendors offer barbeque, Cheerwine, pizza, and ice cream. Many families and neighborhood groups tailgate in the parking lots, spending quality time together.  Some concertgoers go all-out, bringing tables clothed in fine linens, candelabras, vases of flowers, and arrays of appetizers. Others bring their camp chairs or picnic blanket and take advantage of the food and drink provided by vendors. Concert attendees get a handheld fan with the program printed on the back at the Salisbury Symphony’s tent in the First Bank parking lot. Free Cheerwine will be offered again this year! Look for the Cheerwine trailer in the front corner of the First Bank parking lot.

 

Pops-at-the-Post is a completely free annual community event, featuring a performance by the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony.  Pops-at-the-Post is typically a two-hour concert, with a 15-minute intermission, and two planned encores.

The Salisbury-Rowan Symphony hosted the first Pops-at-the-Post in 2005 as part of the Salisbury Post's centennial celebrations at the Salisbury Post loading dock near the intersection of Church Street and W. Innes Street in downtown Salisbury, North Carolina. So many people came out to see this special performance of the Salisbury Symphony that Pops-at-the Post has turned into an annual community event. Generous sponsors and donors have contributed to keep Pops-at-the-Post a completely free community event. Festivities go on all day, with a pre-concert warm-up from 5 to 7 p.m. by the Salisbury Swing Band.

So again, this Saturday, The Salisbury Post will host the annual Pops-at-the-Post outdoor symphony concert showcasing The Salisbury Symphony. With the weather forecast showing temperatures in the mid-80s by concert time and no rain in sight, Maestro David Hagy will raise the baton for the sunset concert — approximately 8PM on Saturday June 2^nd, 2012.

The program features a mix of traditional patriotic music as well as contemporary favorites, and takes place outside of the loading dock of the Salisbury Post.  Several thousand area residents enjoy the concert each year, held the first Saturday evening in June.  This year’s program includes:  “Star-Spangled Banner” John Stafford Smith; “1712” Overture P.D.Q. Bach (Peter Schikele); “Saints” anonymous, W.C. Handy, arranged by Bruce Healey; “Selections From Huck Finn” Billy Burke.

Also “My Heart Will Go On” from Titantic James Horner; “Midway March” from Midway John Williams; “Beach Boys Medley Brian Wilson & Mike Love,arranged by Calvin Cluster; “Music From To Kill A Mockingbird” Elmer Bernstein

“You Can’t Stop The Beat” from Hairspray Marc Shaiman; “Olympic Fanfare And Theme” John Williams; “Lean On Me” & “We Shall Overcome”, Bil Withers and Charles Tindley; “1812” Overture Peter Tchaikovsky; “The Salisbury Post March” John Philip Sousa; and “Stars and Stripes Forever” March John Philip Sousa.

Hagy remembers walking from the Post, Salisbury NC's local newspaper publisher, to the Wrenn House to see where an orchestra might be able to set up for an outdoor concert. As the group chatted as they walked out the door through the loading dock, Hagy noticed the sound echoing back. “Wait a minute”, he thought, “The acoustics are amazing!”

In that moment, the unlikely idea of a concert on a loading dock was born. The loading dock venue has better acoustics than even Tanglewood,and is perfect for the orchestra. The three-foot awning on the front and sides bounces the music from the front of the orchestra to the back. The brass can hear the strings, and that’s so unusual. This was an incredible find!

Pops-a-the-Post was honored earlier this year with an award from the N.C. Main Street Program that awards organizations recognized for excellence in downtown revitalization efforts in categories such as promotion, organization, design and economic restructuring. Pops-at-the-Post received the award for Best Downtown Special Event. The successful Main Street program has proven that revitalizing our downtown areas can help grow local small businesses, attract new investments and create jobs.

Ample parking for the Pops-at-the-Post event is available throughout the Downtown Salisbury area. Vendors will set up along Fisher Street this year by 4 p.m. There is limited handicapped parking in the Post courtyard. A drop-off area is also available at the First Bank lot. Drivers may enter the lot from Innes Street and exit to the right onto Jackson Street.

There are 400 reserved seats available for event sponsors, symphony season ticket holders ,and disabled concert-goers. Any remaining reserved seats become open to the public on a first-come-first-serve basis after 7 p.m.

Tailgate parking opens at 1 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis in the Post employee and First Bank parking lots. The lots close by 7 p.m. or as soon as they are full. You can reserve a tailgating spot so you don’t have to park so early with a $50 donation to Pops-at-the-Post.  To reserve a spot, contact Phillip Winters at the Post, 704-797-4205, or pwinters@salisburypost.com.

Overwhelmingly positive community reaction to the first concert, which celebrated the Salisbury Post’s 100th anniversary, turned the potential for Pops-at-the-Post to become an annual event to a reality. Now, Pops-at-the-Post is a 501(c)(3) organization, which allows for tax-deductible donations.

Want to donate? Supporters can donate to the event online through the Pops-at-the-Post Causes page on Facebook. Or mail donations to: Pops-at-the-Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145

For more information:

• www.popsatthepost.org

• www.facebook.com/PopsatthePost

• www.causes.com, Pops at the Post

The annual Pops-at-the-Post outdoor symphony concert at dusk is just one more reason to make Salisbury, North Carolina your home.  With its incredible selection of historic homes, and vibrant downtown, and its array of community events, Salisbury is the place to be!

So here is your weekend itinerary for June 1-3^rd:

317 S. Shaver Street c. 1900 - $89,900

Friday: Contact Greg Rapp (704.213.6846) for information on homes for sale in Salisbury

Saturday: Attend the Pops-at-the-Post concert

Sunday: Visit the homes of your choice with Realtor Greg Rapp.   

It’ll be a weekend you won’t regret! You can make Salisbury NC your home!


Greg Rapp ~ Wallace Realty ~ 704.213.6846

Home Restoration...the Ultimate Recycling.

Why go to the extra trouble, and perhaps additional expense, to restore an older house? Everyone feels guilty throwing a cans or bottles into the trash. We feel better when we recycle! Wouldn’t it be nice if we felt the same responsibility before sending all historic plaster and lath and moldings to the dump? Think of restoration as the ultimate recycling.

Older buildings present a different set of variables and challenges and require a different mindset and approach to their upgrades. Original materials can be hard to find or replace, people experienced in working with historic architecture can be difficult to locate, and working within the framework of something that already exists can be more difficult than building new.

For many, restoring an older home rich with history and character to its original condition is a philosophical value. It feels good to take care of something, to bring something back, or to maintain the historic integrity.  Additionally, saving and preserving can increase property values. There are often tax credits available, and older workmanship and materials are better and stronger than their modern counterparts are. Historic areas attract more visitors creating a thriving community. There are also aesthetic arguments. Turn-of-the-century construction artisans not only built historical homes better, but a restored historical home also looks better than its modern counterpart does.   

If you are a homebuyer considering conducting historic restoration efforts yourself, or if you think you may hire professionals, be sure to research the many options available to resolve issues. Take into serious consideration options that do less damage to the original historic features. What happens on many projects is often more renovation than restoration. Completely gutting an interior for modern systems or removing walls to create open floor plans is not restoration. The essence of restoration is flexibility and creativity.

The general definition of restoration is to save what historic or original features are there and put back lost elements with ones most closely representing what builders of the era might have used.  Often, restoration decisions must be practical. In the home you are considering, there may not be much left to save, or there may be plenty of historic features in place, or hidden behind renovations. Many times, you can complete necessary repairs, and make upgrades to meet current usage requirements and needs, and still sensitively restore your historic home.

It is important to understand the difference between efforts that reflect restoration versus remodeling, rehabilitation, or renovation.  As you make informed decisions, you will find that preserving the historic value is often a more valuable option than replacing elements with something new. Be sure to understand what you may be losing as well as what you may be gaining.

Why go to the extra trouble to restore an older home?  Because restoration is the ultimate recycling effort, and with it you will preserve the architectural integrity of not only the home, but also the neighborhood, and the community.

To have a closer look at historic and other homes for sale in Salisbury and Rowan County North Carolina, contact Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846.  The choice is yours to purchase a fully restored gem or to take on a restoration project of your own.

 

300 W. Horah Street, before and after restoration.  This home is for sale.