TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Jodi Phelps, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cauley, MPA - Economic & Community Development Director
Nelson Soriano - Neighborhood Engagement Manager
DATE: May 11, 2026
RE:Title
Authorization to Apply for the FY2026 Historic Preservation Fund Grant for the College Heights and Seabrook Hills Communities Architectural/Archaeological Survey
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
Districts 3 & 4
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal II: The City of Fayetteville will have a Responsive City Government supporting a diverse and viable economy.
• Objective 2.2: To invest in community places to ensure revitalization and increase the quality of life
Goal IV: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
• Objective 4.2: To enhance diverse recreation, leisure, and cultural opportunities
Goal VI: Collaborative Citizen and Business Engagement
• Objective 6.2: To ensure trust and confidence in City government through transparency and high-quality customer service
• Objective 6.3: To inform and educate about local government by enhancing public outreach and increasing community dialog, collaboration, and empowerment
Executive Summary:
City Council is asked to authorize the City Manager to submit the FY2026 Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government grant application for an architectural survey of the College Heights and Seabrook Hills communities, as required by the grant process. If awarded, the City would receive $24,000 in federal Historic Preservation Fund grant funds, passed through the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office, toward an estimated $40,000 project cost. Approval would allow the City to pursue funding to document historic and architectural resources in the Murchison Road corridor, identify properties for possible historic designation, and support future public education, tourism, and neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Background:
The City has previously used the Certified Local Government grant process to support community-requested historic preservation work, including activities associated with the Broadell Community.
College Heights and Seabrook Hills are historically significant African American residential communities near Fayetteville State University and the Murchison Road corridor. College Heights emerged in the early twentieth century as one of Fayetteville’s early planned African American neighborhoods, while Seabrook Hills reflects mid-twentieth-century residential growth shaped by nearby educational, faith-based, civic, and military institutions.
The proposed architectural survey would document historic resources in the study area through fieldwork, photography, archival research, review of prior surveys, city directories, Sanborn maps, and other historical records. The survey would help identify properties for possible National Register Study List placement, local historic landmark consideration, and/or a Fayetteville Historic Overlay District.
The North Carolina Historic Preservation Office will assist the City with the request for proposals and consultant selection process. The selected consultant will complete the work under federal and state architectural survey standards, present findings at two public information meetings, and provide final survey records, photographs, report forms, and a final report to the Historic Preservation Office and Fayetteville Historic Resources Commission.
Issues/Analysis:
Approval would authorize the City to compete for CLG grant funding to support a consultant-led architectural survey. This action would not complete the survey, designate properties, or establish a historic district. It would only allow the City to pursue the funding needed to begin that work if the grant is awarded.
The project aligns with the North Carolina Historic Preservation Plan by advancing outreach, partnerships, resource identification, and potential recognition of under-documented historic places. It would also create reliable information for use by community partners, neighborhood groups, alumni organizations, Fayetteville State University archival resources, and tourism partners focused on African American history and heritage.
By documenting the development of College Heights and Seabrook Hills, the survey would support broader neighborhood revitalization and public engagement efforts along the Murchison Road corridor, while highlighting the area’s connections to Fayetteville State University, African American education, faith communities, civic life, military families, and local neighborhood history.
Budget Impact:
The total estimated project cost is $40,000. If awarded, the CLG grant would provide $24,000 in federal Historic Preservation Fund funds. The required local match is estimated at $16,000, has not yet been identified, and would need to be funded through the General Fund, subject to award and any required budget action.
No immediate budget appropriation is requested beyond authorization to submit the application and adopt the Resolution of Support. If awarded, staff will return to City Council for acceptance of the grant and appropriation of grant and matching funds.
Options:
1. Authorize the City Manager to submit the FY2026 Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government (CLG) grant application for an architectural survey of the College Heights and Seabrook Hills Communities.
2. Do not Authorize the City Manager to submit the FY2026 Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government (CLG) grant application for an architectural survey of the College Heights and Seabrook Hills Communities.
3. Direct staff to pursue another course of action.
Recommended Action::Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council move to authorize the City Manager to submit the FY2026 Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government (CLG) grant application for an architectural survey of the College Heights and Seabrook Hills Communities.
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Attachments:
2026 CLG Application - College Heights Seabrook Hills