Prestige Acquisitions LLC plans mixed-use development

Special to Iredell Free News

Children’s Hope Alliance (CHA), a nonprofit serving at-risk children and families across North Carolina, announced Wednesday that it has reached an agreement to sell property it owns in Barium Springs and Banner Elk, exponentially increasing its ability to serve children and families in need of support, from approximately 2,000 per year to as many as 20,000.

CHA will sell approximately 800 acres in Barium Springs to Prestige Acquisitions LLC as part of a planned development and approximately 475 acres of its Grandfather Home for Children property in Banner Elk to Lees McRae College, enabling both CHA and the college to grow and serve additional constituents.

“This is a great day for at-risk children and families across North Carolina,” said Celeste Dominguez, CHA president and CEO. “The sale of this land, much of which has been idle for many years, will enable our organization to enhance our mission, grow our services more quickly and expand our reach more broadly. Instead of caring for unused buildings and property, we can turn these assets into resources that work for children and families.”

The Barium Springs property, which includes parcels in both Troutman and Statesville, is being purchased by Prestige Acquisitions LLC for a mixed-use development, including homes, light commercial, a school and civic center.

CHA will retain approximately 70 acres on the west side of N.C. Highway 21 for its offices, museum and outdoor community spaces. Little Joe’s Chapel, the Alumni Museum, and Heartstrings Music and Arts Center will be relocated across the street from their current location to provide a newly constructed community complex for children and families to gather.

“We are thrilled to continue to support Children’s Hope Alliance as we implement our vision for a world-class development in one of the fastest-growing areas of North Carolina,” added Brian Mahoney, owner of Prestige Acquisitions. “We look forward to creating a live, work and play neighborhood that supports and honors the rich history of this organization and this community.”

Prestige Acquisitions plans to hold community meetings in the coming weeks to share more details about its plans for the development.

While CHA operated residential homes on both the Grandfather Home for Children and Barium Springs campuses for more than 100 years, the organization recently shifted its service model from a physical home for children to serving children in their own homes—whether biological, kinship or foster homes. Today, its in-home and school-based programs are serving more children with better outcomes in less time than in group home care.

About Children’s Hope Alliance

Founded in 1891, Children’s Hope Alliance Headquartered in Statesville, NC, Children’s Hope Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, serving 2,000 at-risk children and families each year. CHA provides educational, prevention and community-based programs and services in 62 N.C. counties with ten office locations. CHA’s staff of 175 counselors, therapists and social workers are committed to creating hope, health and healing for generations.