Downtown Salisbury Inc.

Downtown Salisbury, Inc. promotes, enhances and manages the development of the central business district in a manner which makes the district the economic, governmental, social and cultural center of Rowan County.  We address the needs of neighborhoods and businesses within and adjacent to the Municipal Service District.  We accomplish our mission through economic restructuring, design, promotions and building partnerships. 

On Thursday, March 25, Downtown Salisbury, Inc. held the first Annual Merchants Meeting.  Sidewalk Deli generously provided the space, and attendees brought a wonderful variety of snacks and munchies.  The purpose of the meeting was for downtown business owners to provide feedback on DSI's events and determine if each was worthy of carrying on into 2009.  The events, including eight Friday Nights Out, Halloween FunFest, the weekly holiday events and New Year's Eve, were all approved for the 2009 calendar year.  Some of the discussion included:  convening a task force to address the decreased merchant participation during the Halloween event, possibly renaming the August Night Out (last year it was 60s Night Out, this year it's 70s Night Out, will we run out of decades?), and lighting the Bell Tower during the New Year's Eve event.

Plans for the annual sculpture show, tentatively scheduled for April 2009, are shaping up.  Approximately 9 or 10 sculptures will be displayed at selected sites around the downtown and will be in place for nine months.  Proposals for the show will be accepted from artists in the Southeast Region. 

The Wiley Lash marker, part of the History & Art Trail, was dedicated the weekend of June 28 in conjunction with the Wiley Last family reunion.  

Saturday, April 20 marked the Salisbury-Rowan Farmers Market's Season Opening.  The strong attendance of over 300 customers bodes well for a successful season, and the nine vendors set up for the day was a very good number for this early in the season, according to Market manager Harry Agner.  Fifteen raffle prizes were given away, including produce and meat from the Market vendors, DVDs, and gift certificates from Sam's Car Wash, Blue Bay Seafood, and LA Murph's.  Harry and Market board member Darrell Blackwelder will be on WSTP NewsRadio once a month for 30 minute spots discussing the Farmers Market.  With rising gas and food prices, now is a good time to make the Farmers Market a weekly stop on your grocery-shopping circuit.  Open Wednesday and Saturday, 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., through September.  Located under the big green tents on the corner of South Main and East Bank Streets in Downtown Salisbury.  Save gas, save money, and buy Fresh, Local Produce!

Chaired by Joe Morris, the ER Committee continues to look for a buyer for the McNeely-Young Building at 102 S. Main Street, an F&M Bank Revolving Fund property owned by DSI and partially renovated. The new owner will receive tax credits on work performed by DSI. Call Randy at (704) 637-7814 for more details. A second F&M Revolving Fund property, the Lanier-Rufty Rental House at 213 S. Lee Street is in the selective demolition stage. Recent work by a host of volunteers revealed 11'3" tall beadboard ceilings and well preserved beadboard walls. That property will be available in the fall of 2009. 

Uncle Buck's is expected to open soon at 117 E. Innes  The two apartments above the restaurant are already completed and leased. Thanks Michael and Diane Young for another great renovation.
 
Ted and Cheryl Goins new business and living quarters are well under renovation at 101 S. Main. The business will be "Pottery 101". Sounds like one of those easy credit college courses but we all know that rehabs are not easy. Thanks Ted and Cheryl for your commitment!
 
Jake Alexander and Clay Lindsay are well under way at Yadkin Place. This rehabilitation on the corner of Council and Lee (across from the Yadkin House) has been a complete reconstruction and includes an addition on the corner.
 
Glenn and John Ketner continue renovations that are building an artists community in the warehouse district on South Lee Street. The latest project, Looking Glass Artist Collective at 405-407 S. Lee Street, is a co-op that will includes a number artists.

The Empire Hotel Task Force, chaired by Brian Miller, has been busy looking for a developer for this 88,000 square foot building which was purchased in July 2007 by DSI. The Task Force made 100+ contacts and received qualifications from seven developers. After interviewing five developers, the Task Force recommended one developer and that developer is preparing to enter a 6+ month study period to put the project together. The scenario under consideration is for a hotel! More information will be made available as the study period progresses. 

Chaired by Greg Shields, the committee continues to look for a solution that will allow westbound left turns at from Innes Street on to South Main Street while preserving on-street parking. Accessibility is crucial for the development of projects like the Empire Hotel on South Main Street.  The committee is working on a plan that would add 10 on-street parking spaces in the 300 block of South Lee Street. City Council approved the removal of the stop light at Depot and Council. The committee is looking at possible ordinances related to contractors use of parking during building construction. 

Committee Chairman Edward Norvell is stepping down after 6 years at the helm. Norvell was involved in the creation of the Master Plan which painted a vision that has transformed the downtown. From the East Innes entrance to Fisher Street to the Art & History Trail, Norvell has supplied vision and leadership for the Downtown! He passes the mantle to local architect Pete Bogle as the committee begins an update of the Master Plan.

Improvements for three parking lots were funded in this years City Budget. The Central City Lot (between K- Dee's Jewelers and George's Italian Grill and Bar), the Fisher Street Lot (adding 18 more spaces behind 209 and 213 S. Lee) and the City Hall Lot (behind Queen's) will all be improved this year. Thanks, Mayor Kluttz and Salisbury City Council!

 Many of our accomplishments at DSI are achieved by the outstanding volunteers who serve on our Board of Directors and Committees.  We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of our board members and recognize the following people who will be rotating off this year:  Janie Allen, Mike Miller, Edward Norvell and Bette Pollock.  Thank you for your many years of service!  You will all be missed!

 President               Dick Huffman
                                    Huffman Law Firm, PA
Vice President      Paula Bohland
                                    Select Properties of the Carolinas
Secretary                Greg Shields
                                    SAVVIS, Inc.
Treasurer               Chanaka Yatawara
                                    Salisbury CDC
Past President       Brian Miller
                                    Citizens South Bank
City Staff                  Joe Morris
                                    City of Salisbury
HSF Exec./             Jack Thomson

Trustee                    Historic Salisbury Foundation

City Council           Mark Lewis
                                    Bank of North Carolina
County                     Jon Barber
Commissioner      County Commission
Tourism                   James Meacham
                                    RCCVB
At-Large                  Greg Anderson
                                    Salisbury Post
At-Large                  Pete Bogle
                                    Ramsay Burgin Smith Architects
At-Large                  Lesleigh Drye
                                    Caniche
At-Large                  Glenda Dyson
                                    Just the Thing
At-Large                  Paul Fisher
                                    F&M Bank
At-Large                  Dr. Grant Harrison
                                    Soldiers Memorial AME
At-Large                  John Ketner
                                    Rowan Investment Company
At-Large                  Christine Wilson
                                    Urban Driftwood, LLC
At-Large                  Teross Young
                                    Food Lion, LLC