A $500,000 state grant originally intended for the Davis Community Center in Robbins has been redirected to water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Moore County, leaving the future of the vacant community center unresolved.
The funding change was included in Session Law 2026-61, which was signed into law August 11. The law directs the grant to Moore County in the same amount but changes its designated purpose from the Davis Community Center to water and wastewater infrastructure.
One week later, on August 18, the Moore County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to seek repair bids involving the Davis Center. The vote came as county leaders discussed how to address the deteriorating building and determine the best long-term use of the property.
Vacant center has deep community ties
The Davis Community Center is located on approximately eight acres at 4799 N.C. Highway 705 in Robbins. The property includes the former community building, recreational space and a former baseball field.
Programs that previously operated inside the building, including community meals and dance activities, are no longer using the facility. Outdoor portions of the property have remained available for community recreation, but the building itself has continued to deteriorate while county officials consider its future.
During the commissioners’ discussion, supporters of seeking bids said the county needs to stabilize a deteriorating public asset and obtain clearer information about repair costs. Others emphasized the center’s history and the need for a community gathering place serving northern Moore County. Commissioner John Ritter cast the lone vote against moving forward with the bid process.
Future of the property remains unsettled
County officials have previously heard interest in the property from potential community organizations and private parties. Deed restrictions connected to the property may also need to be addressed before Moore County can make a final decision.
The commissioners’ vote does not settle whether the center will be repaired, transferred or used for another purpose. Seeking bids can provide the county with more information about the condition of the structure and the potential cost of preserving it.
The bid process also does not commit the county to completing every proposed repair. Once estimates are received, commissioners can compare the cost of stabilizing or renovating the building with other options for the property. Any later decision involving county funding, a transfer or a sale would require additional action by the board.
Meanwhile, the redirected $500,000 will be available for Moore County water and wastewater infrastructure rather than the Davis Center project. Additional public action would be required before a final decision is made regarding the Robbins property.
The legislative change did not remove the full $500,000 allocation from Moore County. Instead, it restricted the money to a different category of county need. That distinction is important as residents follow both the infrastructure projects that may receive the funding and the separate discussion surrounding the Davis Center.
Details of the funding change are available in Session Law 2026-61. Additional reporting is available from Sandhills News.
