downtown news summer edition - may · pdf filedowntown news summer edition - may 2013 ......

Volume 11 Issue 2 North Carolina Downtown News

DOWNTOWN NEWS Summer Edition - May 2013

NCDDA President’s MessageEd Wolverton, President and CEO

Downtown Greensboro, Inc.

Two years ago, I had the honor of being elected as the Chair of NCDDA. In some respects, it feels almost like yesterday. In other ways, it feels like an eternity ago. As the organization prepares to pass the torch to a new Chair and Board of Directors, I want to take a few moments to thank everyone for supporting NCDDA over this time and highlight a few accomplishments.

First, organizations like NCDDA can only be as strong as its members and volunteers. We are truly fortunate to have so many people with a passion and interest in downtown who are willing to join as members. Regardless of the size of the community or firm, NCDDA values its members and appreciates everyone’s involvement.

The association is also lucky to have professionals who are willing and able to serve on the Board of Directors to run NCDDA’s programs and services. These people dedicate their time and talent to help

NCDDA Workshop SeriesJohn Hodges, Executive Director

Garner Revitalizaion Association

The Spring Workshop Series kicked off on May 14 with an informative program in Conover, NC. NCDDA members and other attendees learned how the City of Conover led the redevelopment of a former manufacturing facility to create Conover Station, a community hub that includes a new city park, public library, café and a state of the art research development facility and business accelerator.

Ed Wolverton

(continued on page 2)

Conover City Planning Director Lance Hight, center, leads a tour of the Conover Station redevelopment site

during the NCDDA Workshop.

(continued on page 4)


grow communities across the state and advance the profession. I really appreciate their work and efforts over the past two years.

In thinking about the growth of NCDDA since 2011, my attention turns to several accomplishments. Our membership base has grown. The website was dramatically updated and improved. We hired a knowledgeable and active Executive Director in Jason Epley. For the first time in years, NCDDA had a presence in Raleigh during the legislative session. NCDDA provided educational and training sessions across the state on a variety of economic development issues. Technical Assistance Teams worked in other communities to provide in-depth analysis and solutions to address Downtown issues.

While we can all be proud of NCDDA’s advancements over the past two years, more work remains. We must continue our collaborative efforts to address the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. As my role shifts to serve as the Immediate Past Chair, I look forward to continuing my involvement in the organization and improving center cities across the state.

(President’s Message, continued from page 1)


Regional Boundaries UpdateBruce Naegelen,Downtown Dev. Coordinator

Downtown Clayton

BackgroundThe current regional boundaries for NCDDA have been in place since about 2002 when they were re-aligned to coincide with the seven (7) regions of the NC Commerce Division of Community Assistance. During the past several years there has been discussion of streamlining the NCDDA regional boundaries, due primarily to a lack of regional communication by the elected regional directors.

The regional system was designed to provide communication to regional members using quarterly meetings as the method of communication. The process was to hold a meeting in a different member’s downtown throughout the region each quarter. Members in the region would be invited, as well as officials or others from non-member towns with the hope they would find value from being involved with NCDDA’s network and tools. Typically, it would be a lunch meeting at a downtown restaurant or everyone just brought their own lunch. Sometimes a speaker would be involved, but always, the regional director would share news from NCDDA and seek input about issues the NCDDA board was pondering to bring back to the board.

ConsiderationOver the past eight years or so, we have gotten away from enforcing this critical component of the regional system. The proposal in February to reduce the number of regions from seven to three was an effort to help streamline the communications to members.

The proposed realignment would also change the composition of the Board of Directors, potentially reducing the current 7 regional directors to at least 3 and possibly 3 At Large Directors for net reduction of 1 director. The bylaws would also need to be rewritten.

A survey of the membership was conducted with the result of 12 people commenting about the proposal: 11 supported the change and 1 did not. There was only one other suggestion offered, and that was to split the counties up more equally across the three.

During a Region 6 meeting in April, there were suggestions to: 1) Follow metro boundaries such as the Triangle, Triad, etc; 2) Map member towns and towns/cities with known downtown revitalization efforts, and 3) Use DENR boundaries

ConclusionAfter reviewing the survey information and giving the proposal more thoughtful consideration, the committee determined the issue was not the number of regions but rather the need for more participation in the intended regional process.

The committee recommendation was to retain the existing boundary structure, providing guidance and encouragement to help facilitate more regional meetings and communication. As part of the recommendation, a more specific description of expectations were discussed to provide regional directors a sound framework moving forward.

The Board of Directors supported the committee recommendation and will be working with the Regional Directors to hold future meetings.


City Planning Director Lance Hight detailed the numerous partnerships and funding sources used to make the project happen. NC Brownfields Program Manager Tracy Wahl shared information on the Brownfields program and EPA Grants and how they can help facilitate both large and small redevelopment. Tony Whitener of the Manufacturing Solutions Center wowed the group with the high-tech work they do that is changing the face of manufacturing in North Carolina and across the globe. NCDDA would like to give a special thanks to these speakers and the City of Conover for their hospitality.

If you missed the Conover workshop, you still have a chance to see a couple of great examples of commu-nity-led downtown redevelopment projects when the workshop series continues in Rocky Mount on June 27, 2013. The workshop will feature the Douglas Block where we will hear from city leaders, technical professionals and project partners who coordinated numerous funding sources and creative solutions to

Workshop participants tour the Manufacturing Solutions Center, a tenant of the Conover Station

redevelopment project.

facilitate the $8 million redevelopment. We will also tour the Imperial Center, another downtown indus-trial redevelopment project. Speakers will include Sharon Eckhard with the NC Brownfields Program, Steve Schuster with Clearscapes, Joyce Dickens with RMECDC and a number of City of Rocky Mount staff members. To register, visit www.ncdda.org.

NCDDA Workshop Series, continued from page 1)


New Construction in SalisburyGray Stout, AIA

Salisbury will soon see new development along the South Main Street corridor in downtown. The City of Salisbury has made available a site for the construction of a new, two-story framed brick veener 45,000 sf building. The $4M dollar investment in downtown is expected to be a catalyst for the South Main area, creating 10 new jobs with an average annual salary of $70,000. The high tech company, Integro Technologies, started out in downtown Salisbury seven years ago in the rail walk district and now needs additional space. The plan is to lease three additional tenant spaces targeted for other technology related businesses.

In addition to being located downtown, the owner, can walk to the new building from their home in

Salisbury’s Historic West Square. The owner could have built the new facility in the suburbs but choose to stay downtown where employees and out of town business clients could continue to enjoy the benefits of historic downtown Salisbury.

This rendering depicts Integro Technologies from the corner of E. Bank and S. Main streets. The Salisbury Historic Preservation Commission gave unanimous

approval to the project.


Downtown Raleigh Alliance

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has developed a new online annual report that you can “turn” pages like reading from a book. As our communities look ahead to getting their messages out to broader cross sections, online tools are a necessity. To take a look and learn more, visit:

www.godowntownraleigh.com/do-business

Once you arrive on the “Do Business” page, you can click the icon where it says “expand” to read it like a book or select the “State of Downtown Raleigh 2013 Report” to view as a normal adobe reader document.

NCDDA Budget - FY 2013-14The NCDDA Board of Directors adopted a budget for next year as detialed below at their May quarterly meeting. The Board is maintaing its goal of having a balanced budget for this next fiscal year and recommended no major changes from the current year budget.


2013NCDDA Board of Directors

Elections

Call for 2013 Board of Director Nominations

The Nominating Committee of NCDDA is seeking nominations for the following Board positions:

• President (Pres. Elect Jason Thiel agrees to serve)• President Elect• Treasurer• Vice President – Technical Assistance• Vice President – Governmental Affairs• Vice President – Membership• Region 2 – Southern Piedmont • Region 3 – Southern Coastal Plain• Region 4 – Central Coastal Plain

The term-of-office for those elected is July 1, 2013-June 30, 2015. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Friday, June 7, 2013 with elections held the following week. If you are interested in serving on the Board or nominating one of your colleagues for any of the vacant positions, please complete the nomination form available on the website at:

www.ncdda.org (look under news & announcements)

An incumbent may be nominated for a Board position but please make sure they are in the proper region. Also, please ascertain beforehand the willingness of any nominee to serve if nominated and elected. roseassociates.com


NCDDA Board of Directors2012 - 2013

President (2011-2013) Ed Wolverton, President/CEODowntown Greensboro, Inc.

President - Elect (2011-2013) Jason Thiel, PresidentDowntown Winston-Salem Partnership

Past President (2011-2013)Randy Hemann, Exec. Dir. Downtown Salisbury, Inc.

Secretary (2012-2014) David Montgomery, Exec. Dir.Downtown Sanford Inc.

Treasurer (2011-2013) Anne Morris, AICP, Exec. Dir.Burlington Downtown, Inc.

Associate Director/Professional Member(2012-2014)Gray Stout, AIAStout Studio Architecture

Assoc. Dir./Corp. Member(2012-2014)G. Edwin Belk, FAIA, LEED AP Belk Architecture

Region 1, Mountain Region(2012-2014) Joseph Minicozzi, AICP Principal, Urban3, LLC

Region 2, Southern Piedmont(2011-2013)Diane M. Young, Exec. Dir.Concord Downtown Development Corporation

Region 3, Southern Coastal Plain (2011-2013) Mary M. RosePlanning DirectorClinton-Sampson Planning

VP / Technical Assistance (2011-2013)Brain Borne, Assistant City Manager, City of Monroe

VP / Government Affairs(2011-2013)Melissa Norton, Government Relations DirectorDowntown Durham, Inc.

VP /Membership (2011-2013)John Hinnant, Pres. & CEOWilmington Downtown, Inc

VP / Education (2012-2014)John Hodges, Exec. Dir.Garner Revitalization Assoc.

Associate Director/Community Member(2012-2014)Liz Parham, DirectorUrban Development DivisionNC Department of Commerce

Associate Director/Associate Member(2012-2014)Mayor Miles Atkins, Town of Mooresville, NC Metropolitan Coalition Liaison

Region 4, Central Coastal Plain(2011-2013) Julie M. Thompson, Exec. Dir.Downtown Goldsboro, Inc.

Region 5, Northern Coastal Plain(2012-2014)Rebecca Cross, Exec. Dir.Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc.

Region 6, Eastern Piedmont(2012-2014)Bruce Naegelen, Downtown Development Coordinator Town of Clayton

Region 7, Western Piedmont(2012-2014)Vacant Seat

Large Cities Director (2012- 014)David Diaz, President & CEODowntown Raleigh Alliance

NCDDA Executive DirectorJason Epley, [email protected]

Please submit information for next the newsletter by

August 2, 2013 to:

[email protected]

118 South Main StreetKannapolis, NC 28081

Partnerships • Advocacy • Revitalization

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