What is McNair Heights?
BACKGROUND
McNair Heights is Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne's upcoming subdivision development project. This new neighborhood will be in Goldsboro, along Dr. H.E. McNair Street off Harris Street, within the historic African-American community known as Webtown. Other surrounding community landmarks are New Stoney Hill Church, First African Baptist Church and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
But for the origins of the name, Dr. H.E. McNair Street and our name, McNair Heights, we turn to New Stoney Hill Church. Originally founded in 1903 near what is now the intersection of Stoney Hill Road and US 117 N., New Stoney Hill United Holy Church was moved to its current location in 1963. Then in 1965, the Rev. Dr. H.E. McNair was named assistant pastor and in 1974 was appointed senior pastor, serving the congregation and the community for nearly 57 years until his passing in 2021.
“He loved Stoney Hill. His whole life was his mission to do the work of God,” said his widow and longtime Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne Board member and supporter, Veda McNair.
And for him that extended beyond just preaching the Gospel inside the church to embracing folks and trying to provide for their needs.
“His dream was that we would build some type of housing for low-income people, and even more specifically, the elderly. We never got to do that, but that’s what he wanted,” Veda said.
But while the Rev. Dr. H.E. McNair and New Stoney Hill Church may not have been able to build homes themselves, the church does have a long history with Habitat for Humanity, beginning in 1995 when Ms. Jessie McNeil, a long-time church member, was Habitat for Humanity of Greater Goldsboro’s second homeowner.
“I can see her with people – children and adults – following her to the church,” Veda said. “And I remember my husband going through the house, praying and anointing very room. That was our first experience with Habitat and that was a joyous occasion.”
And now Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne is preparing continue the example set with Ms. McNeal to fulfill at least part of Dr. McNair’s vision – naming this new neighborhood for him and building a mixed-income neighborhood, focused on providing homeownership opportunities to families in our community.
“The dream didn’t die. The vision lives on and it lives on through what Habitat is doing. It’s not ours, but the mission is being fulfilled and we’re happy about that,” Veda said.
TIMELINE:
- Fall 2022: Offer made on property & environmental / feasibility studies begun
- Winter 2023: Property purchased & environmental / feasibility studies completed
- Fall 2023: Engineering & Phase 1 planning work begun
- Spring 2024: Community forums (informational meetings & listening sessions) held
- Winter 2025: Phase 1 submitted for permitting
- Spring 2025: Lot clearing projected to begin
- Summer 2025: Infrastructure work on Dr. H.E. McNair Street & Berry Street extension projected to begin
- Fall 2025: Home building on Dr. H.E. Mcnair Street projected to begin
- Winter 2026: Infrastructure work projected to be complete
- Spring 2026: Home building on Berry Street extension projected to begin
PHASE 1
Plans for the infrastructure construction of Phase 1 (proposed layout above) have been submitted to the Goldsboro Planning Department for permitting and is being largely paid for by the City of Goldsboro's federal CDBG funds, along with other grants and donations. This first phase will involve 31 single-family homes - 25 of which are anticipated to be Habitat homeowners. We anticipate selling the remaining 8 lots to private builders for market-rate development for a mixed-income neighborhood.
This challenging project will involve the relocation of water lines and the extension of sewer lines, the installment of a new road, sidewalk and curb/gutter system along a Berry Street extension, as well as sewer and road rehab work along Dr. H.E. McNair Street. All total, this infrastructure work is expected to cost more than $1.9 million. And that's before we even begin building homes, which we anticipate will bring the total project cost to more than $7 million for Phase 1
PHASE 2 and Beyond
But what really has us excited is the blank space on the map. That space is currently mostly wooded and is blank slate. Currently we are going through a community listening and planning process in order to begin to determine what this neighborhood might look like. Our goal is mixed-income, mixed-housing (single-family detached, duplex, townhome) and possibly mixed-use.
GET INVOLVED
If you are a member of the community or have ties to the community, we'd love to hear from you with you about your hopes and dreams for this area, as well any concerns you may have. Please email lstallings@habitatgoldsboro.org.
If you are interested in applying for homeownership in this community, you can learn more about our application process here. If you are living in this community and are interested in our homeowner home repairs, you can learn more about our critical home roof repair program here.
If you are a developer or a home builder and would like to discuss partnering on this project, we are interested in potentially selling parts of this property and we'd love to talk to you, too. Please email mwhittle@habitatgoldsboro.org.
If you'd like to make a donation to support this effort, you can do so here and we thank you for your interest and support!
Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne Executive Director Matthew Whittle talks at a McNair Heights community forum at New Stoney Hill Church where Dr. H.E. McNair was pastor for more than 40 years.
Equal Housing Opportunity Statement: We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. Policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, familial status or national origin.
