The move to grow and revitalize downtown Concord as a commercial player and as the county seat is a continuous campaign, one that calls for constant recruitment of new business to the area.
But as it grows to both those ends, downtown Concord must also grow in respect to the immediate residential neighborhoods - historical or otherwise.
The four candidates in Concord’s two contested races talked about their ideas how downtown Concord can be developed, yet retain its charm.
Councilman David Phillips, 57, seeking re-election for the city’s District 1 seat, said the city needs to continue the downtown merchant tax that is used to support the Concord Downtown Development Corporation, which in turn is charged with promoting downtown for new business.
Phillips also pointed to the recent addition of free wireless Internet as a step to further put downtown Concord on the map as an area in which to do business.
“What bothers me is that there are many people who have moved here and have never seen downtown,” Phillips said.
He also said in downtown’s adjacent residential areas also need the support of the city and that there are several lots where similar homes can be built.
“I think it has a charm and character that we need to maintain, protect and preserve,” Phillips said.
Downtown Concord resident Alex Porter, 58, challenging Councilman Jim Ramseur for the city District 2 seat, said more attention needs to be paid to downtown areas just beyond historic downtown like Gibson Village and the Logan Community.
Porter has said that he thinks Barber-Scotia College is one of the often overlooked assets of downtown. In the last year, the college has been working to regain accreditation and reducing debt.
“I think the city, the county and (the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce) should try to reach some sort of understanding in refurbishing Barber-Scotia,” Porter said, adding that the college sits along an important corridor for downtown. “I think the right personalities are in place to lead good dialogue with Barber-Scotia and some other parties - I think they’re receptive to those ideas.”
Porter said that while new mixed-use commercial developments like Huntersville’s Birkdale Village try to look like a traditional down, Concord has the real thing and it needs to be maintained.
“I don’t have any specific plans other than to just listen to people and make some compromises and make a difference,” Porter said.
Councilman Ramseur, 61, who is seeking re-election for the city’s District 2 seat, said the city has identified business expansion areas to the east and west of downtown on Cabarrus Avenue.
The city recently completed a roundabout on the western part of Cabarrus Avenue.
“In doing that, you improve the corridor and hopefully, the business sector will come,” Ramseur said. “I do not want to see them go north and south on Union Street (where two residential historic districts sit).”
Ramseur said he believes the CDDC is dong a good job of promoting downtown, as a few new places to eat have sprung up as of late. He also mentioned the idea of running shuttles into the downtown during the big Lowe’s Motor Speedway races in the spring and fall.
Ramseur also said the city needs the help of downtown business owner to promote and market downtown.
“You cannot and should not do it all on your own,” Ramseur said.
Business-owner Tom Small, 54, who is challenging Phillips for the city District 1 seat, acknowledged that downtown Concord is confined by the surrounding residential areas and said the city must work closely with downtown merchants to promote the area and attract new business.
“The physical limits of the downtown are pretty well defined as they are now,” Small said. “The city can encourage and help retailers move in that direction. The true importance of getting this to happen rests with downtown business owners and property owners. This is not a function the city can do all by themselves.”
-Eric Deines
