NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) – The historic Sudan Shriners Temple has been vacant for two years. Although its doors and windows are boarded up, it still stands tall in New Bern, a fixture since 1951.
In March, Craven County planned to demolish part of the historic building to create a parking lot due to the urgent need for parking spaces during elections and court sessions adjacent to the building.
For some residents, it makes sense.
“I mean, I guess it would be logical. There aren’t a lot of parking spaces around the city,” New Bern resident Tiffaney Boone said.
But seven months after the announcement, the building remains untouched.
However, county officials say there is no delay, and they still plan on moving forward with the partial demolition of the temple.
Some residents who live near the temple are still hoping it stays.
“We like the building; it’s going to make us sad to see it gone. Unfortunately, it can’t be saved. It sat there for years, and nobody did anything after the flood [Hurricane Florence], so we knew that it was going to have to go,” Claire Perkins said.
The county said they’ve secured a demolition permit and addressed safety concerns like asbestos since March.
While some see the logic in adding parking, others believe the temple could serve a different purpose.
“Maybe they can keep the building and make it into a community center for the kids around here, for them to have something to do,” New Bern resident Angela Lynch said.
The county says that while they are still in the process of developing cost estimates for the demolition and construction of the parking lot, they do not have a timeline for when the demolition will occur or when the project will be completed.
However, they plan to preserve key historical elements to honor the site’s history and are still working through final approvals.
Craven County purchased the property for $6 million in 2022.
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