Three of the four parcels on the market contain turn-of-the century houses in various states of repair.

July 31. By Dave Vieser. The rezoning needed to facilitate the Cain Center for the Arts’s acquisition of three properties on Catawba Avenue is getting accelerated handling by the town, beginning with a Planning Board hearing on Aug. 12, followed by the Town Board public hearing and decision Sept. 3.

The process is infrequently used, according to Planning Director Rox Burhans.

“Our town Land Development Code allows modifications to the Town rezoning process in unique circumstances so long as the process continues to comply with state law,” said Burhans. “The Cain project has a very modest scope of work and a constrained project schedule so they will only be meeting with the Town Board once for the final public hearing and rezoning decision.”

About the proposal

Cain Center for the Arts has three parcels of land at the corner of School Street and Catawba Avenue under contract for an undisclosed amount. The prime site contains three folk Victorian-style homes, two of which the Cain Center will save.

Under the plan designed by architect Nicole Perri of Davidson, one of them will be used for a ceramic center.

The interiors of the preserved homes are likely to be reconfigured, and efforts will be made to save trees and landscaping.