As NC State University looks to expand its Centennial Campus, there's at least one point of contention, involving a major piece of Raleigh's history. The gravesite of Theophilus Hunter, the father of famed rRleigh native Isaac Hunter, and a member of the colonial militia, potentially lies in the path of the university's plans.

Belle Long is the manager of the Wake County Historical Society, and claims to be a descendant of Hunter's

"I mean, I'm not against development, but I think it has to be done with sensitivity," Belle said. "Theophilus Hunter Senior is my five times great grandfather."

Hunter is likely buried, among other unmarked graves. The gravesite is located behind the Japan Center on the Spring Hill property, where Dorothea Dix Park borders the Centennial Campus. In a recent newspaper ad, NC State announced potential plans for new campus development near the site.

"It's a wonderful sense of place to have this plantation home, built in 1816, and his grave adjacent to it," said Ernest Dollar of the City of Raligh Musuem. "It just fosters a remembrance of the past for those to learn for in the future."

Potentially, there are around 15 other bodies buried next to Hunter's grave. Long said she and other descendants have been in constant contact, since they saw the ad, and that the consensus is both the marked and unmarked graves should not be disturbed. Long cites state law.

"I don't know what it says for private businesses, but for state government entities, it says for a cemetery to be removed, it has to be hindering in a significant way their mission," Long said. "And it's hard for me to see how a few graves on a hillside keeps NC State University from educating all the thousands of wonderful graduates they produce, every year."

NC State University representatives declined our offer for an interview, but they told us they haven't had plans to develop the area, near the gravesite. They said the ad was published, as a means to gauge public opinion about an investigation of the site for potential development in the future. They also said they plan to meet with descendants to understand their wishes.

For now, it seems no plans for development there are moving forward. And nothing further has been announced. This may also be just the first of many battles ahead, as the City of Raleigh looks to reshape historical land.