NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) \u2014 The process to demolish the historic Sudan Shriners Temple in New Bern has begun.<\/p>\n
The 42,000-square-foot temple was built in 1951 and is the birthplace of the Sudan Shriners, a philanthropic organization supporting the Shriners Hospitals for Children. <\/p>\n
It closed in 2018 after Hurricane Florence flooded and damaged the inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t repairs that we could afford,\u201d said Robby Sadler, Sudan Shriners Oriental Guide. \u201cThe county needed it, so they bought it from us, and now we\u2019re going to move on in another direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, county commissioners decided to tear it down and turn it into a parking lot. The county says it will preserve elements from the temple, such as the doorway monument and the monument facing Front Street.<\/p>\n
Sadler said seeing it go brings mixed emotions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s bittersweet,\u201d he said. \u201cSeeing the dome come down is kind of hard to swallow, but we\u2019ve got to move on.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Bern resident Kevin Strike said he understands why the temple needs to be torn down, but doesn\u2019t agree with the new use for the property.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sad that they\u2019re going to turn riverfront property into a parking lot,\u201d Strike said.<\/p>\n
Another resident, Debra Johnson, said she\u2019s sad to see it go but thinks the change is necessary because the city needs more parking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad that they\u2019re keeping the monument because it\u2019s such a good, charitable organization,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
A county spokesperson said the demolition will begin later this month and continue through December. <\/p>\n
Construction of the parking lot will then begin and run through February 2027.<\/p>\n
Sadler said the temple used to host Shriners who came from out of town because there weren\u2019t many hotels. It also hosted many dances and a notable Elvis performance in 1955. <\/p>\n
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