Historic church saved from demolition for new Vinfast roads
OF NEARLY 7% AT THE BEGINNING
OF JUNE.
>> VINFAST IS STEPPING IN TO
HELP SAVE THIS 135 YEAR-OLD
CHURCH NEAR ITS FUTURE ELECTRIC
VEHICLE FACTORY IN CHATHAM
COUNTY. AND THIS IS THE MASSIVE
SITE YOU SEE HERE WHERE THE
VIETNAMESE AUTOMAKER WILL BUILD
THAT FACTORY IN MONTEFIORE THAT
CHURCH, SEVERAL HOMES AND FULL
BUSINESSES. ALSO.
>> ARE IN THE WAY OF A NEW ROAD
WORK OF NETWORK ROADS THAT
BRING TRAFFIC TO AND FROM THIS
NEW SITE WRAL'S MATT TALHELM
SHOWS US WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO
THOSE PROPERTIES.
>> AND C DOT PLANS TO WIDEN OLD
US ONE HERE. BASICALLY UP TO
THE FRONT STEPS OF THE CHURCH.
ANOTHER ROAD WOULD ACTUALLY
RUN THROUGH THAT BUILDING OVER
HERE ON THE CHURCH'S PROPERTY.
THIS IS A SMALL CHURCH. 25 TO
30 MEMBERS ATTEND THE 3
SERVICES HERE A WEEK. THEY HAVE
BEEN FIGHTING TO SAVE THEIR
CHURCH FROM DEMOLITION AND NOW
THEY'RE GETTING HELP FROM A NEW
>> THE STEEPLE OF MERRY OAKS
BAPTIST CHURCH RISES ABOVE THIS
CORNER LIKE IT HAS FOR 135 7
NEW ONE AND A BIT HERE. RECENT
JERRY HOLDEN IS ONE OF THE
CARETAKERS I WAS MADE HERE
BE PART OF THE FAMILY, THE
PARMA HAM THIS TO GO HERE.
THE CHURCH SURROUNDED BY ITS
WHITEWASHED PICKET FENCE, SITS
ON THE CORNER OF OLD AND NEW,
TOLD US ONE AND NEW ZEALAND
>> HAITIAN PUTS IT IN THE PAST.
A NEW NETWORK OF ROADS PLANNED
BY NC DOT TO GET TRAFFIC IN AND
OUT OF THE BIN PAST. FACTORY
CHANGES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> WE DON'T, MILES. AND VANCE
HAS COME IN THE IN FAST IS NOT
THE ONE YOU'RE STILL IN THE
COMMUNITY. STAKES IN THE GROUND
SHOW WHERE THAT ROAD WOULD RUN
THROUGH THE CHURCH PROPERTY.
IT'S PART OF THE FIRST PHASE
OF ROAD PROJECTS AROUND THE
BEND TEST SITE, INCLUDING A
NEW EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY AT
NEW LIFE CHURCH ROAD.
>> AND C DOT SAYS CONSTRUCTION
WILL BEGIN ON THIS FIRST PHASE
THIS FALL AND WINTER.
RIGHT NOW THE STATE IS WAITING
ON ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS BEFORE
CAN MAKE OFFERS TO PROPERTY
OWNERS. 3 BUSINESSES, 11 HOMES
AND THE CHURCH ARE IN THE PAST.
THOSE ROAD PROJECTS WELLNESS
BOOST. BE GIVEN US ASK MY OWN
LIVES, BUT THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO CHANGE.
THEY SAY DO WE WILL BE INTO
RIGHT AWAY. SO WE'VE GOT TO GO.
BUT DEMOLITION MAY NOT BE THE
ONLY WAY THROUGH THIS VINFAST
IS OFFERING 3 ACRES OF LAND.
IT OWNS TO HELP RELOCATE THE
CHURCH NEARBY. THE COMPANY CEO
ATTENDED THE SERVICE WITH THE
CONGREGATION THIS WEEK TO
DELIVER THE DEAL. WE APPRECIATE
HIM
HAPPEN OF THEY THEY HAVE SAID
THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE
STATE ROUTE WERE SAYING.
>> THE DOT WON'T BUDGE FROM
THEM LEGAL. I ASKED NC DOT IF
THOSE ROAD PLANS COULD CHANGE
THE IMPACT, FEWER PROPERTIES.
BUT I'VE NOT GOTTEN AN ANSWER
TO THAT QUESTION TODAY. MATT
TALHELM, WRAL NEWS, CHATHAM
COUNTY AND THE CONGREGATION IS
STILL DECIDING WHETHER THEY
WILL
>> RELOCATE THE CHURCH TO THAT
DONATED LAND VINFAST WILL
FINALLY BREAK GROUND. WE SHOULD
SAY ON THE FACTORY AT THAT MEGA