NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1981 SESSION

CHAPTER 1034

SENATE BILL 316

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE YOUNG MEN'S INSTITUTE BUILDING IN ASHEVILLE, BUNCOMBE COUNTY.

Whereas, in gratitude for the work of several hundred black citizens of Asheville who helped build Biltmore House, George Washington Vanderbilt constructed the YMI Building in 1892-93 to serve the local black community; and

Whereas, the YMI flourished as a social and cultural center for Asheville's black community for 30 years until the Great Depression; and

Whereas, the YMI Building was designed by Architect Richard Sharp Smith whose body of work represents a significant portion of Western North Carolina's finest turn-of-the-century and early-twentieth-century architecture; and

Whereas, the YMI Building housed a kindergarten and gymnasium as well as streetside businesses and, hence, is significant as an early example of a modern, multi-functional structure; and

Whereas, the YMI Cultural Center, Incorporated, purchased the YMI Building in 1979 in order to preserve the structure and return it to use as a community cultural and social center; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1. There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resources, for the 1981-82 fiscal year ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the purpose of exterior restoration and interior rehabilitation of the YMI Building, provided a like sum is raised by the YMI Cultural Center, Incorporated, in order to match the grant-in-aid on a dollar-for-dollar basis. YMI Cultural Center, Incorporated, may apply to the Division, from time to time, for the funds appropriated under this act, as it raises the matching funds.

Sec. 2. Funds appropriated in this act shall be expended only in accordance with G.S. 121-11 and G.S. 143-31.2.

Sec. 3. This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 10th day of October, 1981.