Conover city staff shared their vision Thursday with Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) to transform the former Broyhill site from bare property into a park and train station for the community to enjoy.

Dole watched as Conover City Manager Donald Duncan showed images of the 27-acre site in its current state, with its rundown Warlong Glove Manufacturing Co. building and a lot of desolate land. And then, a vision of the future — an area with walking trails, a bridge and elegant landscaping and the transformation of the industrial plant into a train station.

“This is great,” she exclaimed at the sight of the images.

After a brief presentation, Dole was given a short tour of the former Broyhill property, which Conover purchased in 2005 for $500,000.  The city has since been trying to finalize plans for the property.

The Broyhill site is currently deemed brownfield land, which means it was previously used for industrial purposes and may be contaminated by low concentrations of hazardous waste or pollution.  However, the Conover staff has learned there is potential there for a large-scale renovation for community uses.

Conover Planning Director Lance Height admits the property poses some challenges.  The site features a dry creek bed that requires at least a 30-foot buffer to meet storm water management standards.  Instead of letting that be a hindrance to the plans, Height said the city plans to turn it into an asset by expanding the buffer to provide a recreational area and also serve as a storm water educational site.

Dole helped secure a $738,000 grant from Congress for the first phase of the project, which will focus on new infrastructure with water and sewer lines and streets, Duncan said.

“This shows how she’s contributing to our community,” Duncan said.

He said the city hopes to have the transformation complete by 2011.

“I see a group of passionate people who want to move it quickly,” Dole said.

While the city plans to transition the vacant property into a park, Duncan said the Warlong Glove plant would be renovated to become the new train depot.  

“The building has such a unique structure, we want to preserve it in some way,” Duncan said.

He said the site was approved for a station earlier this year as a stop on a planned Norfork Southern passenger line.  The entire site is tentatively being called Conover Station, the same name as the old station that used to be located across from the new site.  

“This railroad will really be the lifeblood of Conover for the next 30 years,” Duncan said.

Inside would be offices for the Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority, the first regional bus system in the state, as well as offices for depot personnel.

“I think the plans are very exciting,” Dole said.  “I think when you are cleaning up a brownfield site, it’s a great contribution.”

She said the connectivity it would provide within the region and the preservation of part of Conover’s history are also impressive aspects of Conover’s ingenuity.

While the value of the grant is substantial, Duncan said the money won’t go far in a project. He said it could require as much as $20 million to complete and will require additional grants, maybe as many as a dozen.

Conover has already secured three other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants in addition to the grant money Dole secured for the city.  Duncan said there are also plans to apply for Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant available through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and 205J grants from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources as well.

“We could not do this without help,” Duncan said.  “It would be too expensive.”