The Burke County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Monday, May 19, at 9:00 am, to hear from representatives of the Marshallese New Beginnings Church regarding their efforts to improve living conditions for families currently residing in housing units located within the former George Hildebran Elementary School.
Church representatives presented drawings and financial documentation outlining a phased renovation plan. Their proposal involves using temporary housing for two families at a time while their apartments are brought up to code. Once renovations are complete, those families would return to their updated units, and the next two families would rotate into temporary housing. This process would continue until all units are compliant.
The meeting also addressed the broader context of the situation. The former George Hildebran Elementary School, built in 1935 with additions in 1998, was designed for educational use, not full-time residential occupancy. Over time, the buildings have deteriorated significantly, raising major safety concerns. These life safety concerns include fire risks, major electrical, structural and plumbing building code violations, and general threats to the health and well-being of residents.
Due to these unsafe conditions, Burke County issued a vacate order for the property at 8123 George Hildebran School Road, officially declaring it unfit for habitation. The action was taken to ensure the safety of families and prevent continued occupancy in a condemned structure.
The commissioners appreciated the church’s initiative and planning, but some voiced concern over continuing to house families in hazardous conditions while renovations proceed gradually. They questioned whether relocating all families at once would be safer and more responsible than rotating through temporary housing.
After an extensive review of the documentation and careful consideration of all known risks and inputs, the commissioners accepted the additional evidence as presented by the church and, because of the evidentiary proof of performance, the Commissioners granted an extension of the notice to vacate until November 14, 2025. The building is required to meet all the minimum residential code by the November extension date. The evidence presented included licensed architectural drawings, cost and time estimates from a licensed general contractor, and capital financing capability.