Agreement Allows Use of More Railroad Land

Following months of negotiations, town officials have upgraded an agreement with the North Carolina Railroad involving parking, landscaping and enhancements along the railroad right-of-way through town.

The agreement has special significance for areas along Main and Front Streets, including spots used by the yearly Harvest Festival.

"This allows us to formalize and expand something that has existed as several fragmented or informal agreements for some time," said Town Manager Steve Biggs.

Under the new agreement, the town will be able to make use of more sections of railroad land, with the authority to enforce nuisance restrictions and keep the areas maintained. In exchange the Town will continue to mow and maintain the corridor in a safe and attractive condition.

"We appreciate the hard work of NCRR Real Estate Representative Cathy Deeley, who made this agreement possible," Biggs said. "She was very good to work with and really made this agreement possible."

The railroad, which cuts through town near the downtown area, helped Clayton boom in the years following the Civil War, as the town became a major market for cotton, watermelons and tobacco until the onset of the Great Depression. It still has a significant impact on the Downtown area in terms of open space, parking, and the general atmosphere. The agreement will allow the town to make it a more contributing asset to the area.