Rocky Mount resident Lea Henry, President of Two Rivers Development Partners, has purchased vacant buildings on North Queen Street, adjacent to Kinston Enterprise Center. The buildings formerly housed the old Johnson Music Building, and Greene's TV building.

“When I came here and saw the buildings, I was excited because the buildings are intact,” said Henry.

With the approximately 25,000 square feet across the buildings, Henry's initial plan is to have market-rate rental housing upstairs and retail and commercial tenants on the ground level.

Henry hopes to have her first tenant by 2022. The building’s addresses are 317-323 N. Queen Street.

“The other day I found out that the building had closed and I was hoping to get up with her soon, but then she walked in the door,” said Downtown Kinston Revitalization Executive Director Leon Steele. “Am I excited about this project? You bet I am.”

The purchase of these properties aren't the only investment into Kinston that Henry is considering making. She recently opened a business that imports coffee from Ghana, Africa, and will make the decision between Kinston and Rocky Mount at a later date to house her coffee import business.

Henry is not a stranger to Kinston. In the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, she spent time here.