Carolina Transfer and Storage Company Building, (Former)
Why it's listed
Built in 1927 at 1230 West Morehead Street, this four-story warehouse was designed by engineer G.T. Barnes for the Carolina Transfer and Storage Company, founded by Charlotte businessman W.D. Wilkinson. Its irregular plan fits a triangular lot between West Morehead Street and a Piedmont and Northern Railway spur, with truck and rail loading bays on three sides. The structure is reinforced concrete flat slab construction with red brick infill, mushroom columns and drop slabs, which made the building largely fireproof and left open storage floors. Few windows were needed, and steel sash windows appear on the front and rear. The building was among the earliest on the new West Morehead industrial corridor, which grew after the street was extended and connected to Wilkinson Boulevard. It is recognized for its role in Charlotte's commercial storage and distribution trade and as a well preserved example of early twentieth century warehouse engineering. Alterations include infilled street-side truck bays and modest first-floor office renovations, probably from the 1960s.
Significance in brief: The building is cited under Criterion A as an example of the commercial storage warehouses that served Charlotte's growth as a regional distribution center, sited for both rail and highway access. Under Criterion C it is cited for architecture and engineering because of its flat slab construction with mushroom columns and drop slabs. It is described as one of the best preserved properties in the West Morehead industrial corridor.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99001447, listed November 30, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1230 W. Morehead St., Charlotte |
|---|---|
| County | Mecklenburg County |
| Listed | November 30, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001447 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Barnes, G.T., engineer |
| Architectural style | Early Twentieth Century, utilitarian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The transfer company operated until the early 1990s and sold the property. The current owners acquired it in 1997 with plans to rehabilitate it for office use. The form lists current function as commerce/business. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 35.22915, -80.86155 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99001447.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460853
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.