I. INTRODUCTION
North Carolina Urban Redevelopment Law, N.C.G.S. 160A-500 et seq., provides a mechanism to empower and assist local governments in efforts to promote programs of redevelopment in areas suffering from blight. On October 2, 2017, the City of Asheboro Planning Board deliberated and certified the area identified by Randolph County Parcel Identification Numbers 7751726479, 7751725650, 7751738346, 7751831174 and 7751733983, and inclusive of all adjacent streets and right-of-ways, a Redevelopment Area and directed the City of Asheboro Redevelopment Commission to prepare a redevelopment plan. The Planning Board’s certifying resolution is incorporated into this plan by reference.
The 2018-2023 Central Business District Redevelopment Plan describes potential activities to be undertaken in the Redevelopment Area to facilitate property rehabilitation, conservation, and reconditioning. The plan has been prepared in accordance with the North Carolina Urban Redevelopment Law. The Redevelopment Commission recognizes that public and private investments have revitalized much of downtown and wishes to support the momentum that has reinvigorated the Central Business District into a hub of commercial and cultural activity. To this end, the plan outlines actions that the city and business community can take to further strengthen downtown and build on twenty-plus years of successes outlined in the table below:
PROJECT IMPACT EST. YEAR INVESTMENT Bicentennial Park New downtown greenspace for public $250,000 1996 events and recreation Sunset Ave. Installed new street trees, curb and $250,000 2004 Streetscape pedestrian improvements Farmers’ Market Convenient location for direct sale of $200,000 2005 foods from farmers to consumers Cultural and Renovation of former federal building $75,000 2009 Recreation Office into service and administrative center Sunset Theatre Rehabilitation of downtown landmark $1.7 MM 2013 into performing arts venue Transformation of two abandoned Asheboro $5.6 MM 2013 downtown mills into affordable housing Mill Lofts City Hall Modernization of historic $90,000 2014 Renovation municipal headquarters 31,500-square-foot multi-purpose center Senior Center $3.5 MM 2014 Downtown Parking lot improvements to support $130,000 2017 Parking lot downtown businesses and city festivals Recreation Center Upfit of former private recreation $900,000 2017 center into city’s first comprehensive public indoor recreation facility Figure 1 | Public-Supported Community Investment in Downtown 3
