Community Testimonials
Bob Spivey, Mayor, Town of Windsor
Façade Renovation
Mayor Spivey discussed the Façade Renovation Grant Program that the Town of Windsor uses to revitalize their downtown. The program was modeled after a program in another community. The Chamber of Commerce administers the program.
Originally, the project allocated $5,000 a year for three years from the town's general fund. At the end of the three-year period, the program was renewed and increased to $10,000 per year. The town matches two dollars for every dollar spent by the business owner. The town uses a one-page application form that is available to businesses in Windsor.
The project has been very successful and all of the money has been used each year since its inception.
Bob Spivey
C/O Town of Windsor P.O. Box 508
Windsor, NC 27983
(252) 794-3121
email: windsor@datalinkc.com
Andy Whitby, Town Commissioner, Town of Weldon
Mixed-Use Development
Historically, in the town of Weldon, most of the buildings were two stories and designed for mixed-use. As with many cities in America, this gradually changed over the years. Town officials decided they wanted to use mixed-use as a tool to renovate their downtown.
Using federal and state historic property tax credits, affordable housing tax credits and community development funds, several buildings in Weldon's downtown were renovated into 24 units of affordable housing and three street-level commercial spaces. Weldon allows both first floor and second floor living in their downtown. However, first floor living occurs behind the storefront.
Grants and tax dollars were used as a catalyst for the project. Today, the transformation of Weldon's downtown is completely market-driven. Everyone who applies for one of the affordable units must undergo an intensive background check. To date, there have been no signs of increased criminal activity or any other problems resulting from mixed-use development in Weldon's downtown.
Andy Whitby
501 Sycamore St.
Weldon, NC 27890
(252) 532-7504
email: andywhitby@weldonnc.com
Scott Stevens, City Manager, City of Kinston
Green Options for City Government
The City of Kinston is halfway between Raleigh and Morehead City and has a population of 23,068. In order to protect the growing town, town officials have undertaken several measures to ensure the sustainability of the town's natural resources.
Because the Neuse River is such a vital resource to the community, the city is focusing on restoring its waterfront. The Kinston Waterfront - Now! task force was established to convert the city's Neuse River waterfront into an economic incubator for eastern North Carolina.
Kinston has also been a leader in adopting other best-use practices that can help to protect the riverfront. Kinston installed the first "rain garden" in eastern North Carolina, at the Neuseway Nature Center, in 1998. It was designed by NC State faculty and built by Kinston city crews for public demonstration. Kinston installed a permeable parking lot designed with concrete and grass pavers to address the issue of stormwater runoff.
Kinston also created eastern North Carolina's first "green roof" on the Neuseway Planetarium's roof at the riverside Neuseway Nature Center. Kinston has also identified potential wetland restoration sites, including the wetland retrofit on the Lenoir County Boat Ramp on US 70.
Kinston is minimal with respect to what they require in terms of regulatory controls. Instead, city officials use cooperation and communication to work with developers to ensure that all new development utilizes cisterns for collecting rainwater and to ensure stream restoration and protection.
Scott Stevens
207 E. King Street
Kinston, NC 28501
(252) 939-3110
fax (252) 939-3388
email: Scott.Stevens@ci.kinston.nc.us
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