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U.S. 321 Widening: In Addition to the $66M Price Tag, Almost $26M Being Paid Out for Right of Way

By Paul T. Choate

Includes photo gallery below NCDOT land purchase lists.

Construction continues on 321 in Blowing Rock. Photo by Maria Richardson

June 18, 2012. The $66.4 million price tag on the widening of U.S. Highway 321 from Blackberry Road in Caldwell County to Shoppes on the Parkway in Blowing Rock does not tell the whole story of how much this project is really costing the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

According to Division 11 Right of Way Agent Deniel Miles, an estimated almost $26 million is being paid for easements and rights of way on 173 parcels of land along U.S. 321. This brings the total for the project to approximately $92 million.

Just taking into account the $66.4 million project cost, the 4.2 mile stretch of U.S. 321 widening works out to about $15.8 million per mile or almost $3,000 per foot. Adding in the almost $26 million for right of way, it works out to about $22 million per mile or about $4,150 per foot.

Miles said at present, almost $17 million has been settled on.

“That doesn’t included the ones we have filed on and it could be higher than that because of those amounts,” said Miles. “And some of those have settled and I don’t know what that amount is.”

Miles said the figure is still evolving, as some have pushed back against the NCDOT and filed claims to either attempt to keep their land or receive a higher dollar amount. She added that, for now, the almost $26 million appraisal is a close estimate.

Right of way land parcel acquisitions began in August of 2009. Some parcels may still need to be purchased, which also contributes to the fact that no dollar amounts are set in stone yet. Some parcels of equal size can vary greatly in how much they cost the NCDOT.

“It is tough to compare one parcel with another if they are the same size,” said Jerry Higgins, Division 11 Public Information Officer. “There may be different items on the parcels that affect the estimate, such as a house or etc.”

In fact, it’s not just front lawns and parking lots of area businesses that have been taken. Some houses have been demolished to make way for the new four-lane highway.

Construction began on widening U.S. 321 in January of 2012 after the project was awarded to Taylor & Murphy Construction Company Inc. of Asheville in December of 2011. Blasting operations were scheduled to begin in Blowing Rock on Wednesday, June 13.

Right of Way and Easements

The NCDOT’s Right of Way branch is in charge of all acquisitions of land parcels for right of way use for construction and maintenance on roads and highways. Also, in some cases, the NCDOT can obtain easements on property. In the case of an easement, the property owner remains free to use the property for any purpose that does interfere with the right of way or easement.

The amount of land needed for rights of way and easements varies depending on conditions.

“The right of way footage for eminent domain may depend on the area” said Higgins. “For example, in some cases, it could be 100 feet. In others, it could be guardrail to guardrail.”

For more information about the U.S. Highway 321 widening project, contact Division 11 Resident Engineer Doug Eller at 828-964-3260 or visit ncdot.gov/projects/blowingrock321.

For more information about the NCDOT Department of Right of Way, call 336-667-9114 or 919-733-1390.

To look up public records on land transfers in Watauga County, visit http://72.15.246.181/watauganc.

So who got paid?

Editor’s note: The following is a list of public records compiled from the Watauga County Register of Deeds regarding Department of Transportation land parcel acquisitions for the U.S. 321 widening project. This is an incomplete and evolving list, partially because some parcels were acquired from Caldwell County and because some acquisitions have not been settled yet.

Name NCDOT Payment
Christopher M. Estes $750,000
Gregory H. Hampton $771,500
Betty B. Wade $21,500
Preston R. Taylor, Jr. $51,500
Charles G. Pethel $46,500
Jacqueline E. Roberts $52,500
Tammy G. Hurley $40,000
Rosemary Fowler $108,500
Richard W. Gragg $143,000
Carol B. Coffey $100,500
Thomas J. McNamara $717,000
Green Park Inn $70,000
Christine S. Abernethy $1,024,500
Frances W. Weant $350,000
Everett H. Walker, Jr. $65,000
Ransom Street LLC $64,000
John F. Robinson $195,000
Richard K. Chesnutt $500,500
Billy B. Triplette $101,500
Timothy W. Gentry $350,500
Stonetree Development Inc. $331,000
Eac Investments LLC $2,500
Melisa L. Stripling $258,000
Paul C. Gragg $364,500
Hillary L. M. Rosenberg $217,500
Deborah K. Buxton $852,500
Gregorgy Landau $625,000
Town of Blowing Rock $392,000
Keith R. Biggers $265,000
Dixie T. Vanderwerff $325
Byron S. Cooke $1,250
Blowing Rock ABC Board $27,000
Ronald Cambria $82,000
Charles T. Sizer, Jr. $56,550
Keith McDonald $17,000
Henry P. Woodburn, III $20,000
Arthur M. Skibbe, Jr. $255,500
H.L. Trivette $3,500
David L. Brown $5,500
David G. Cox $24,000
Linda F. Crucet $72,000
Cliff Dweller Enterprises Inc. $68,000
BR Watauga, LLC $229,000
Thad L. McNulty $18,750
UCB NC Properties Inc. $15,500
Darrell Cain $81,000
Phyllis C. Lester $200,000
Donald B. Dunlap $40,000
Dennis K. McDonald $625,500
Betty M. Coffey $10,000
Lewis P. Coffey $3,000
M. Ellen Lloyd $21,500
Thamena Hanna $80,000
Carl Underwood $120,000
HHC Co. Inc. $1
Edward H. Robertson, III $240,000

Other lists

Full list of parcel numbers and corresponding property owners in Watauga and Caldwell counties

Submitted by Jerry Higgins

PARCEL
NO.
PROPERTY OWNER
10 Hal G. Sigman
10-A Brian Bolick, et al
011 Burt M. Myers
012 Saint Marks Lutheran Church
013 Burt M. Myers
014 Wood Stone Estates
015 Mountain Air Land, LLC
016 George Poteat
017 Terry Britton
018 Sterling Trust Company
018A Sterling Trust Company
019 Paul F. Armbruster
019A Paul F. Armbruster
020 Elizabeth Free
021 John S. Craig
21Z (John W. Craig) John W. Craig Estate
022 David H. Armbruster, II
024 Cline Real Estate Investment, LLC
025 Benjamine D. Griffin
026 Randall Silver
26Z Randall Silver
027 Robert W. Sappenfield
028 John W. Craig
031 Patton Breon Reighard
032 Donald Favian Vincent
035 Dell B. Wilson
036 Neal C. Ford
038 Village Gate Development
039 Baxter-Norris Consturction, Inc., Et Al
040 Ann Moore
40Z Ann Moore
041 Anne H. Bernhardt, et al(combined w/42)
046 Lisa Sowards
047 Winterset, LTD
048 Blackberry Ridge Condominiums
049 Thad L. McNulty
055 Mary Briggs Shuford
062 Blowing Rock Country Club
064 Blowing Rock Attractions
64Z Blowing Rock Attractions
065 Blowing Rock Improvement
65Z Blowing Rock Improvement
066 Lee Oval Jaynes
069 ASU (Mariam C. Hayes)
070 Green Park Inn, Inc. (Ellaron)
70Z (Ellaron, LLC) Blowing Rock, LLC
072 HFMI Properties, Inc.
075 (Leon D. Terry, Sr.) Townes at Greenh
075A Denise B. Nowery
75AZ Robert K. & Denise B. Nowery
076 Blowing Rock Country Club
077 (Glenn R. Johnson) Walter Bovard
078 David Laughter
079 Jennie H. Grist
080 Thomas L. McNamare
081 Eva Conway
082 Christine Arney/Allen Miller
083 Cecil Stallard
084 Edward and Susan Robertson
085 Fairway Villas
086 Pinnacle Woods, Inc.
087 F. G. Harper
088 Fairway Properties & Investments
090 Caldwell Realty & Investment Co.
093 Gerald D. Sullivan
095 Patsy S. Ebert
95Z Patsy Ebert
096 Darrell Cain
097 William Franklin Mabry
098 Dixie T. Vanderwerff
100 Keith Rennie Biggers
100Z Keith Rennie Biggers
101 Blue View of Blowing Rock, Inc.
102 Robert J. Arey
103 John and Neal Orgain
104 Dennis W. Dagenhardt
105 F. G. Harper Trustees & Ford
106 Henry P. Woodburn, III
106Z Henry P. Woodburn, III
107 John F. Robinson
107Z John F. Robinson
108 Robert C. Abernethy
108Z Robert C. Abernethy
109 Medearis Properties, Lmtd. Partner
110 Frank M. Mongelluzzi
111 Willaim P. Furr
113 G. Andrew Metzger
114 Frances W. Weant
115 Timothy Worth Gentry
116 Church of God
117 Dennis K. McDonald
118 Beautiful View Investments, LLC
119 Louise C. Hemphill
120 Mak Property Management, LLC
120Z Mak Property Management, LLC
121-A The Hamptons of Blowing Rock
121 Capital Ideas, Inc.
123 Sandra J. Glover
124 H. H. C. Co., Inc.
125 Walter C. Deem, Jr.
126 Lewis Paul Coffey, etal.
128 D. Paul Coffey
128Z Carol Banner Coffey
129 Frank Mongelluzzi
130 Gregory H. Hampton
130Z Gregory H. Hampton
131 Stone Tree Development, Inc.
131Z Stone Tree Development, Inc.
132 Ransom Street, LLC
132Z Ransom Street, LLC
133 Richard K. Chestnut
134 Arthur M. Skibbe, Jr.
135 Milan Inc.
136 Rosemary Fowler
137A Paul Cabell Gragg
137 (Thomas L. Gragg, et al) Paul Cabell Gragg
137Z (Thomas L. Gragg, et al) Paul Cabell Gragg
138 Wilson E. Deal
139 Tammy Lea Greene
140 Jacqueline A. Roberts
141 Charles Glenn Pethel
142 Triplett & Houston
142Z Triplett & Houston
143 Charles T. Sizer
144 Betty Buckner Wade
145 Preston R. Taylor, Jr.
146 Everett H. Walker, Jr.
147 Melisa L. Stripling
149 Christopher M. Estes
150 OSF Real Estate, LLC
151 Keith McDonald
152 Hillary Lacy Major
153 David G. Cox
154 8180 Valley Blvd., LLC.
155 Gregory Landay
156 Phyllis C. Lester
157 Douglas Dwight Icenhour
158 New River Falls Property Owners’
159 UCB North Carolina Properties
160 Richard W. Gragg
161A Town of Blowing Rock
161-B Deborah Keyes Buxton
161AZ Town of Blowing Rock
161-BZ Deborah Keyes Buxton
162 Town of Blowing Rock ABC
164 Brothers In Arms, LLC
165 Charming Inns of Blowing Rock
166 Christian Science Society
168 Ronald Cambria
168A Byron Stone Cooke
169 Keith McDonald
170 Frank Mongelluzzi
171 Intermediate Real Estate, LLC
172 Gregory H. Hampton
174 Town of Blowing Rock
175 Thamena Hanna
176 Richard W. Gragg
177 David L. Brown
178 Gregory Landay
181 Blowing Rock Community Art
182 Michael E. Filipski, et al
183 Donald B. Dunlap
184 Suzanne S. Miller
186 Larry Edwin Mull
187 BR Watauga LLC
189 Cliff Dwellers Enterprises, Inc.
190 RSK, LLC
191 Jeremiah G. Sumnter
193 Margaret Ellen Lloyd
194 Cliff Dwellers Enterprises, Inc.
195 Tanawha, LLC
197 (Susie W. Underwood) Carl Underwood
198 S. Owen Coffey Trustee
200 EAC investments, LLC

List of parcels and payments requested for both Watauga and Caldwell counties

Submitted by Jerry Higgins

WBS Element Parcel Date Payment was Requested Amount of Payment for Property Acquired
34402.2.6 R-2237C  901 09/24/2004  $534,100.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  182 06/29/2011  $72,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  178 12/15/2010  $155,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  177 06/02/2011  $5,100.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  176 12/22/2009  $18,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  174 01/13/2011  $378,300.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  172 10/19/2009  $600,600.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  169 04/11/2011  $17,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  168A 03/04/2011  $1,250.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  168 03/24/2011  $82,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  165 05/31/2011  $23,900.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  162 03/03/2011  $26,750.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  161B 11/19/2010  $851,850.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  161A 12/20/2010  $126,750.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  160 06/24/2011  $125,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  155 01/06/2011  $471,950.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  153 06/14/2011  $24,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  152 11/29/2010  $585,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  149 08/21/2009  $750,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  147 10/07/2010  $257,500.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  146 06/08/2010  $65,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  145 10/30/2009  $51,300.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  144 11/03/2009  $21,300.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  143 03/29/2011  $56,450.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  141 11/05/2009  $46,400.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  140 11/13/2009  $52,300.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  139 11/13/2009  $38,200.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  138 03/01/2011  $263,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  137A 10/14/2010  $6,650.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  137 10/07/2010  $357,500.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  136 11/30/2009  $108,450.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  135 03/15/2010  $37,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  134 04/28/2011  $251,100.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  133 07/14/2010  $495,650.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  132 05/12/2010  $63,700.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  131 08/04/2010  $330,500.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  130 01/11/2010  $146,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  129 03/07/2011  $235,650.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  128 04/06/2010  $89,050.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  126 03/25/2010  $10,950.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  120Z 04/05/2011  $20,075.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  119 04/11/2011  $124,560.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  118 06/09/2011  $208,225.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  115 08/06/2010  $343,850.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  114 05/05/2010  $350,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  113 06/17/2011  $315,225.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  110 03/07/2011  $1,538,900.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  108 05/14/2010  $979,200.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  107 07/14/2010  $195,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  106 04/28/2011  $20,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  103 06/23/2011  $291,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  102 04/28/2011  $4,900.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  101 04/29/2011  $5,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  100 01/18/2011  $262,500.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  098 03/04/2011  $325.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  095 11/19/2010  $664,825.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  093 04/05/2011  $37,750.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  082 10/19/2010  $251,240.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  081 02/08/2011  $155,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  080 03/23/2010  $716,700.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  079 10/11/2010  $100,100.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  078 03/24/2011  $193,550.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  077 04/13/2010  $215,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  075A 05/07/2010  $404,250.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  075 02/05/2010  $201,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  072 07/02/2010  $340,900.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  070 05/04/2010  $69,800.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  069 07/15/2010  $280,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  066 05/21/2010  $133,800.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  065 04/08/2010  $16,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  064 05/18/2010  $263,325.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  055 09/28/2010  $7,750.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  055 02/08/2011  $19,750.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  048 08/02/2010  $329,500.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  047 08/02/2010  $2,250.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  041 03/21/2011  $67,200.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  040 05/06/2010  $24,900.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  039 06/14/2011  $15,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  036 08/09/2010  $25,900.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  032 08/23/2010  $70,350.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  031 07/02/2010  $180,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  028 06/10/2010  $60,450.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  027 12/03/2010  $180,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  026 06/18/2010  $71,550.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  025 11/09/2010  $125,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  024 03/17/2010  $90,950.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  022 03/03/2010  $257,700.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  021 06/08/2010  $100,300.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  020 03/03/2010  $28,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  019A 07/23/2010  $135,500.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  019 07/23/2010  $106,100.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  018A 08/02/2010  $57,300.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  018 08/02/2010  $98,600.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  017 06/23/2010  $175,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  016 06/02/2011  $432,050.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  015 08/23/2010  $179,000.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  014 08/23/2010  $255,700.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  013 03/25/2011  $170,950.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  012 05/12/2010  $5,225.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  011 03/24/2011  $22,500.00
34402.2.6 R-2237C  010 06/04/2010  $1,100.00
TOTAL      $19,829,775.00

 

Photo Gallery

Photos by Maria Richardson

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