WNC Magazine: Nina Simone’s homeplace in Polk County up for sale

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Story by Jon Elliston for WNC Magazine:

Now, much of Simone’s birthplace has been restored to honor its history, but its future is in jeopardy. The home’s would-be preserver, Kipp McIntyre, bought the house in 2005, and he’s since spent more than $80,000, he estimates, in an effort to return the structure to its original state. Working with local contractors and volunteers, he’s replaced the foundation and stripped away drywall and other layers of modernity; with help from Simone’s friends and one of her brothers, he’s installed period furniture and fixtures to replicate the home as she would have remembered it.

For McIntyre, a former museum curator and county economic planner, the project is a labor of love that he can no longer afford. Late last year, he was forced to suspend the restoration project and put the house on the market. His asking price is $143,000, but he wants something more from any potential buyer: a commitment to Simone’s legacy.