A hotly contested municipal election, redevelopment efforts involving the former Spencer’s industrial property and the surprise resignation of the city’s mayor were among the dominant news topics in Mount Airy during 2015.
But others made the cut as well.
These included ground being broken on a long-awaiting connector for the city’s two greenways and key business developments such as the opening of a Cracker Barrel restaurant.
“Economic development and jobs for our citizens continues to be one of the highest priorities set by the city board and manager,” City Manager Barbara Jones commented in summing up 2015’s highlights from the municipal government standpoint.
And this was evident in a year that produced total investment of $14.1 million by new and expanding businesses, according to a breakdown from the city manager.
Hard-fought election
The Mount Airy municipal election was the dominant news story last year, based on the extent of coverage generated and the volume of online comments by readers on topics related to its races.
Longtime local political observers say the election generated more interest than any other in recent memory, including drawing nearly 23 percent of registered voters to the polls.
A dozen office-seekers were involved in all, including two write-in candidates vying for a South Ward council seat, and a race to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Deborah Cochran. Her unexpected resignation last March represented another of the year’s top stories.
Mayor Cochran had served in that position since 2009, and cited increased demands for public appearances and related issues among her reasons for resigning.
Cochran left with more than two years remaining in her term, which required a special election to fill that seat, won by David Rowe on Nov. 3.
The election also saw three incumbent commissioners maintain their seats after waging intense battles, Jim Armbrister, Shirley Brinkley and Dean Brown.
Redevelopment plan
The election was closely tied to another top story of the year in Mount Airy, the continuing efforts to revitalize the former Spencer’s Inc. apparel-manufacturing buildings downtown.
That property, totaling about 10 acres, was bought by the city government in 2014, when a seven-member redevelopment commission (RDC) also was appointed to guide the process.
It May, it approved a draft version of Westside Redevelopment Plan based on findings of the city planning board that involved declaring the Spencer’s site and other nearby private property as “blighted.” This ruffled feathers among property owners in the area of Pine and South streets, including several longtime local businesses, including fears over lowered real estate values caused by the blighted tag.
They also have been fearful of the power by the redevelopment commission to seize property by eminent domain. Although RDC members vehemently deny that possibility, owners fear this could occur if they don’t conform to the plan.
One example occurred near the end of the year, when discussions were held on a possible “roundabout” traffic pattern to funnel vehicles into the redevelopment area which presumably would require using land now privately held.
In December, the formation of the Mount Airy Property Rights Alliance (MAPRA) was announced as a means to protect the owners. They also have been communicating with a Washington, D.C.-area legal advocacy group that specializes in eminent domain cases.
At the end of the year, two development proposals were on the table for Spencer’s property, for a possible four-star hotel/banquet center and a high-end apartment complex.
Greenway connector
Another key event occurred in September, when ground was broken for the construction of a 2.2-mile greenway link to connect the Emily B. Taylor Greenway on Mount Airy’s west side to the Ararat River Greenway to the east.
“We are continuing this project with a $2.2 million appropriation from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and other partners,” added Jones, the city manager.
When the construction is completed in 2016, “Mount Airy will have close to seven miles of greenways and trails, which is incredible for a community this size,” she remarked.
The new section will be a 10-foot-wide asphalt trail that will extend from the Taylor greenway’s present ending point near the intersection of Worth Street and U.S. 52 to the point where the Ararat River Greenway now ends near B.H. Tharrington Primary School.
Another infrastructure project reached fruition in 2015 after city officials negotiated and finalized an agreement with the U.S. Postal Service to pave and reopen a large parking lot there for use by citizens and tourists visiting the community.
Cracker Barrel
In a development that appealed to local taste buds, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store opened in late July at 1948 Rockford St.
Along with the culinary addition to the community, the $2.4 million, 10,000-square-foot business resulted in the creation of about 200 full- and part-time jobs.
Its opening was eagerly anticipated by customers, about 60 of whom lined up on the front porch of the business on the morning before it opened for the first day of business on July 20.
Since then, a filled parking lot has been the norm at Cracker Barrel, where about 150 local officials and other invited guests participated in a ribbon cutting on July 17.
Commercial gains
Although 2015 did not produce any major economic-development projects here, gains did emerge in the city’s manufacturing and business communities.
Based on a summary provided by Jones, among these were:
• The addition of 75 jobs at the Hanesbrands sock-knitting plant on West Pine Street to increase production there, which was announced in December 2014 and began on Jan. 1. The plant has completed hiring and now employs 305 people, according to Jones.
• IMOS, LLC’s building of a three-suite retail and medical office facility at 367 S. Andy Griffith Parkway. It is valued at more than $1 million and is home to Mount Airy Foot and Ankle and Traxx.
• Delp Chiropractic’s completion of a new professional office building at 954 N. Main St., a construction value of $650,000.
• Plans by Rivertrack Crossing, LLC to build a new office building at 1015 Rockford St., with construction valued at $500,000.
• Nelson Auto’s new office building at 305 N. Andy Griffith Parkway and the opening of a used automobile sales lot in Mount Airy by the Virginia-based entity.
• Nester Hosiery’s purchase of a vacant Techform facility at 1553 Carter St. The 56,593-square-foot building is being reused as a warehouse and distribution center.
• Delaware Quarries Inc.’s purchase of the vacant Rock Solid Dimensional Stone Facility at 581 Piedmont Triad West Drive. Delaware Quarries has reopened the building and expanded the sales yard of the 12,320-square-foot stone-fabricating facility.
• Barber Street Investments’ purchase of the 43,622-square-foot Renfro-Barber Plant at 1078 S. Main St., which it reopened as a furniture warehouse and distribution center for My Home Furnishings, LLC.
• The acquisition by Carolina Expediters of the vacant Amber Contracting office building at 1415 Fancy Gap Road. The 8,634-square-foot office facility has been reused as the Carolina Expediters headquarters.
• A $175,000 renovation by First Citizens Bank of its facility at 502 N. Main St.
• PDQ Israel Family Forrest Oaks’ $225,000 renovation of a building at 2133 Rockford St., Suite 1400, into a medical office.
•A $220,000 renovation of the Simmons Nissan dealership on Rockford Street.
• City Electric Supply’s $100,000 renovation of a vacant building at 630 W. Independence Blvd. for use as a retail sales location.
• Northside Investment Properties’ purchase and renovation of a vacant 2,726-square-foot building at 176 N. Renfro St. to use as offices for mortgage origination and investment brokerage.
Tom Joyce may be reached at 336-415-4693 or on Twitter @Me_Reporter.
