Kings Mountain seeks new path for Habitat for Humanity land sale

Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity is wanting to expand its reach beyond Shelby, where the nonprofit has built 40 houses since being founded in the 1980s.

The nonprofit is seeking land in Kings Mountain but has run into a few roadblocks.

Kings Mountain City Council rejected a bid for four parcels of land by Habitat for Humanity and an upset bid by Sundown Motors at a June 23 meeting.

Henry Earle, assistant city manager, said the state of North Carolina allows local governments to convey property to intermediaries -- such as Habitat for Humanity -- to build low or moderate income housing because it fulfills the purpose in the constitution to aid the poor and unfortunate.

"In 2024, Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity approached the city of Kings Mountain with the desire to build this type of housing in the city. Staff identified four city-owned parcels that could work. Habitat did due diligence and decided these properties would work for what they wanted to do."

He said the city attorney and the city manager began working on conveying the parcels to Habitat in January, but suspected that they couldn't use the conveyance process because the housing authority exists not as a city department, but as an outside entity.

Earle said they met with the North Carolina School of Government and that suspicion was confirmed so staff began working on an alternate method.

He said North Carolina statute allows cities to sell properties by the upset bid process. "It was proposed to habitat and habitat agreed to move forward with this process," he said.

Earle said Habitat submitted a bid with conditions and the 10-day upset bid process started but was upset by a local builder.

"The upset bid was not a proper procedure to do what we wanted to do because conditions cannot be placed on an upset bid per case law," he said.

Earle said both bids were far lower than market value with the upset bid for the four parcels by Sundown Motors of $3,000.

"Staff recommends bids are rejected and staff can explore other options to get this property in the hands of Habitat," he said.

City Attorney Mickey Corry said staff are developing a method that will allow them to grant the land to the nonprofit and will have it back before council soon.

Council unanimously voted to reject both bids.

Amy Allen, executive director of Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity, said they are thankful for Kings Mountain's desire to partner with them and they look forward to building in the city when the issue is resolved.

Reporter Rebecca Sitzes covers Cleveland County for The Star. You can reach her at RSitzes@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Kings Mountain seeks new path for Habitat for Humanity land sale

Reporting by Rebecca Sitzes, Shelby Star / The Shelby Star

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This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 4:56 AM.