Rocky Mount’s downtown is getting a major facelift. The City Council just greenlit a whopping $30 million revitalization project featuring twelve bold developments. Historic buildings like the Douglas Block and Epstein Building will be restored, while the old Orange Crush bottling facility transforms into swanky apartments. Construction kicks off summer 2024, wrapping up by mid-2025. The ambitious makeover aims to enhance local business, preserve cultural heritage, and breathe new life into this North Carolina gem.
A massive $30 million facelift is breathing new life into Rocky Mount’s sleepy downtown. The city council‘s late 2024 approval of twelve ambitious projects signals a dramatic shift for this North Carolina community, targeting over 100 homes and businesses for transformation.
It’s about time – those broken storefronts weren’t exactly helping tourism.
The centerpiece is the historic Douglas Block, a two-block restoration project preserving what was once a thriving African American business district. Meanwhile, the 201 S Washington project is turning the old Orange Crush bottling building into something actually useful – 16 modern apartments with ground-floor retail space. Talk about a fizzy transformation. The area’s residential over retail zoning designation perfectly aligns with this mixed-use development approach.
From abandoned buildings to bustling spaces, Rocky Mount’s Douglas Block and Orange Crush makeovers are breathing fresh life into historic landmarks.
The iconic Epstein Building from 1912 stands ready for its $1.6 million renovation makeover. A 13-member Central City Revitalization Panel meets monthly to keep things on track, though watching paint dry might be more exciting. Still, their oversight of the Downtown Major Investment Incentive Program (DMIIP) is vital, helping developers offset those sky-high construction costs that make accountants cry.
The Rocky Mount Event Center is getting in on the action too, positioning itself as a hub for everything from trade shows to weddings. Because nothing says “I do” like urban renewal. With strategic consulting from local real estate experts, the center’s location maximizes accessibility for regional events.
The Five Points area is next in line for improvements, hoping to catch some economic spillover. Let’s face it – they could use it.
Construction kicks off in summer 2024, with the initial wave of projects wrapping up by mid-2025. The whole initiative follows the Main Street Four-Point Approach, which sounds fancy but basically means “don’t mess up the historic stuff while making it profitable.” Smart thinking.
These aren’t just random beautification efforts. Each project is strategically designed to generate perpetual tax revenue while preserving the area’s character.
The mix of residential, retail, and event spaces should create a vibrant downtown where people actually want to hang out.
And with the NC Main Street Program providing technical assistance for business recruitment, empty storefronts might ultimately become a thing of the past.
Rocky Mount’s downtown is getting its groove back, one restored facade at a time.