Rust, cracks, and hollow walls: Inside Valdese's old public safety building

Most brick buildings don’t have rusted metal where there should be mortar.

Nor are the walls typically hollow.

Valdese’s former public safety building has deteriorated so badly that part of it was condemned in 2024, forcing police and firefighters into makeshift workspaces that officials say are slowing response times and complicating daily operations.

Valdese’s former public safety building on 121 Faet St. SW is split into three parts: the two-story section in the center, which was built in 1927, and the one-story additions on the north and south sides built in the 1970s.

The newest section is the south side.

Examining the exterior walls, a few things may stand out.

First is that the top corner of the building, right beside the firetruck bay, has newer bricks and mortar. That’s because the original bricks crumbled and fell off a few years ago, said Fire Chief Truman Walton.

Second, a close look at any side of the southernmost structure reveals something unusual about the mortar. At regular 16-foot intervals, the mortar is either falling out of the joints and exposing rusted metal or looks distinctly newer than surrounding mortar.

And third, cracks and patches marring the brickwork wrap around the entire south wing, all at the same height.

Inside the building, floors have separated from the wall by several inches, there are vertical cracks in the bricks, and sections of brick look like they’re being pushed out of the wall.

Walton’s old office was in a room on the end of the south wing. His desk was close to the wall.

He said that when it was windy, he had to wipe dust and brick granules off his desk throughout the day.

Police Chief Marc Sharpe said that, if one stays in the building for long enough, they will hear cement falling inside the hollow walls.

Walton said the walls were built as two separate courses of brick. One forms the exterior walls, the other forms the interior walls. Between them is a 2-inch gap.

“They used … (a) metal frame system with little thin wire to tie the two courses of brick together, but it was not stainless steel (and) it wasn’t galvanized,” Walton said.

The material did not hold up to the elements. Over time, according to Walton, moisture got into the walls and caused the metal to rust — “and when it rusts, it expands.”

Sharpe said an architect examined the building in 2024.

“He said, ‘It’s going to collapse,’” Sharpe stated. The architect added that it would be unwise to keep employees in that part of the building.

The building was condemned by an inspector shortly after the architect examined it, Walton said.

Fast forward two years, and both the police and fire departments are mostly out of the building, but both still use structurally sound portions of it. This splits police department operations between Town Hall and Faet Street.

The fire department is split between a safe part of the old building and a trailer behind it.

CHALLENGES

Both departments struggle with recruitment because of the spread-out, makeshift facilities they operate in. The lack of centralization and buildings designed as police and fire stations can be a deterrent for people looking to enter the fields.

Both chiefs are also frustrated by how difficult it is for people to find them.

The police station is located inside Town Hall at 102 Massel Ave. SW in what was meant to be a temporary arrangement. There is no signage for the police department outside, but inside is a sign pointing to a locked, double-mirrored door. There is a push-to-talk button to call on officers.

The old public safety building is still marked on Google Maps as the Valdese Police Department. These days, the Faet Street building is only used for basic equipment storage.

Town Hall is less than ideal for police operations, Sharpe said. Its open environment could put other town employees and residents in danger if officers bring in a suspect who decides to fight.

Plus, evidence storage is inadequate.

Sharpe said in the event of a murder case, maintaining biological evidence would be difficult due to the lack of climate-controlled evidence storage.

“But we’re getting by, doing the best we can with what we have,” Sharpe said. However, just because it is working does not make it efficient.

Sharpe covered the police department’s challenges extensively at the town’s March 2 meeting, including the need for a proper facility.

One of the fire department’s challenges is that the current setup causes a 30- to 45-second response time delay, Walton said.

Before the south side of the building was condemned, firefighters on duty stayed on the first floor. They moved to the second floor in the middle section of the building.

“We also have to worry about people running, tripping down the steps and things like that when they’re in a hurry to get to the trucks,” Walton said.

There is also a disconnect between administrative staff, including Walton, and the firefighters on shift since they no longer share a building.

“We were (previously) face-to-face with our shift personnel,” Walton said. “We met at the kitchen table every day in the mornings, first thing, to talk about our day. Now, with admin being in a separate trailer, we don’t really know what they’re doing unless we go see them … or they don’t know what we’re doing unless they come see us.”

WHAT NOW?

Most Valdese council members have agreed with Town Manager Todd Herms’ and Chief Financial Officer Bo Weichel’s proposal to build a new combination police and fire station on 200 Massel Ave. SW.

Several council members, though, have been vocal with their concern about the financial impact on residents considering the $10.9 million estimate and a loan repayment strategy that includes raising the 2026-27 property tax rate to 55.5 cents per $100 valuation.

Herms said he expects the actual cost will be lower than the $10.9 million estimate.