Letters to The Telegram,

James E Williams wrote a letter to the Telegram, claiming the Event Center would make RMT a model City.. I think he’s a bit delusional.

The citizens of Rocky Mount need to know that the leaders of this town have already done their studies and visited others cities that have done related things and are very successful. If Rocky Mount listened to naysayers and their negative comments, we would be living in a ghost town.

The new Southern Bank Business Center coming to downtown Rocky Mount should prove how important revitalization can be to the growth of a city.

Michael T. Bryant, the regional executive for the bank’s western region, which includes Rocky Mount, said “We are proud to make this investment in Rocky Mount – particularly in downtown Rocky Mount. We believe having a vibrant downtown would benefit the entire community and look forward to a shared future of prosperity. Our bank officials are pleased with the direction downtown Rocky Mount is headed, the revitalizing effort, and we desire to give back to that cause.”

If James has lived in RMT, for a lone time.  He should know by now that Banks don’t last long in this City. Also When Roanoke Rapids got their Theater, everyone said the say thing. Back to the Bank building, I still have to wonder how much longer BB&T will allow them to grow, before taking them over.. Also just how many empty bank building are downtown now?

Building Buildings don’t make a city great, it never has and never will. If this was the case our city would be still on the Rise and not a downward spiral.

Currently we can’t even keep the business we have. Golden East mall is almost an empty shell of a business, Home depot is gone, and it $4 million dollar building sold for $1.4 million and will soon be a church, like we really need another on in the city. Longhorn Steak house has closed, and it sit empty. Many more business has close down or move out of the city. Why one ask, high rent, and Utilities bills. That the Wal-mart  Plaza, a unit’s rent is near $3,500/ month add Utilities and other business expenses, one wonder how you can make enough to stay open. Also Ole Navy in the same plaza has recently close too.  Rocky Mount even has lost a few fast food joints.

We don’t need retail, we need industries, and manufacturing businesses, which at one time RMT had. They left mostly due to high utilities.. When they left many jobs left with them. If the City Council was serious about getting Rocky Mount back on the Rise they would seeking these Companies out..

Another Rocky Mount Citizen speak up about the Event Center

This person hit the nail on the head,

I hate to disappoint you, but many of us naysayers are tired of paying for buildings and other objects in hopes that it will attract businesses and industries.

No buildings are going to help the situation until utilities, crime, taxes and race relations decrease. Why should we pay for something that may take 10 or more years to profit just so we can say we have an event center?

Inquiry, What Happen to Subway?

It would seem that Downtown Rocky Mount last one of first business that open during the Dedication of the New Douglas Block. Yes Subway is no longer there. I guess they couldn’t make a go of it there..

Locals voice their concerns about the potential event center funding.

A new group called the Community Council has formed in Rocky Mount, which is focusing on the City’s plan to build a Event Center somewhere downtown. The group recently held it first (no media allowed) meeting this pass Wednesday (2/5) at the Braswell Library.

The topic was the Event Center cost and taxes.

Residents questioning the wisdom of building an event center in Rocky Mount are raising concerns that city officials will have to raise property taxes to cover its costs.

They said they are worried that possible other funding sources identified by a consulting firm would not generate anywhere near enough dollars to cover the annual debt and operating costs of the center.

And they said some of the potential funding options outlined in a report to the city by AECOM Technical Services out of Chicago aren’t feasible, or would require approvals from elected officials that aren’t likely. (Source: Read more)

A local Citizen had this to say,

meeting at the Library on Wednesday. Skip Carney secretary of the group was on FM 99.3 Thursday morning and he said the media was not invited. I called in and said although the media was not invited they could have attended. However anyone, don't have to be media, can record meetings held in a public facility and they are backed by The Open Meetings Law Statue.

I find it quite interesting this paper and WHIG-TV has not reported on the Wednesday's meeting. So what is going on? Is the group receiving special privilege? I know they can get it from WHIG-TV, but is it the case with this paper?

Since The Community Council said they wanted to educate the citizens, why did they not invite the media? Well my ignant opinion is they didn't want to expose who attended the meeting and didn't want to share what they talked about. SMDH!

He is correct members of media could have attended and took notes the old school way, pad and pen. After all the meeting was open to the public.  I guess today media don’t know how to do it “old school”, they are lost without their digital records and video cameras.

Now another person is also correct in there assessment of the Event Center,

If the event center is such a great idea, why hasn’t some private investor built one in Rocky Mount?

After all, we do have U.S. 64 and I-95.

Obviously it is not a good investment so there is not one private investor interested.

Why build an event center here?

So, is the Event Center a great ideal or just a waste of time and money?

Should the citizens of Rocky Mount vote on the Planned Event Center?

From Rocky Mount Telegram,

One Citizen had this to say,

There should be a referendum for every taxpayer to have a vote before any decision is made on spending $40 million of our hard earned money.

If the citizens vote in majority for the event center, then build it. If we vote against the event center, then this should be the decision made by the council.

We are supposed to live in a democratic society with leaders voting on the will of the people, not dictating to us their wishes.

Does this person have point, Yes he does, the propose Event Center should be voted on by the citizens of Rocky Mount, since it would mean that the City would have to buy the property that would be need or use eminent domain to require that land that would be need.

Rocky Mount Christmas Parade

I was browsing the photos that David Hahula took of the Rocky Mount, NC Christmas Parade this year. Every shot was great, showing just how the diverse our city is. The Parade feature groups from all over the city. From School Band to City employees and every day citizens.

It would seem that city was truly enjoying it self that day.

Click here to See the photos,

however the first photo is a shocker, lady on a float take a phone, really. The phone call could have waited. 

They’re having a Celebration..

yes they are celebrating their new sidewalks, lamp posts, and streets in downtown Rocky Mount NC.

This is from Face book

The City of Rocky Mount will host a Downtown Streetscape Celebration May 30, 2013 at 4 pm. Congressman G.K. Butterfield, who also attended the kick-off for Streetscape, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker. The public is invited to the event, scheduled to be held at 119 Southeast Main Street in Downtown Rocky Mount, located next to the former Peoples Bank at the intersection of Main and Tarboro Streets.
Streetscape is the name for visual elements of a street, including the road, street furniture, open spaces and more. The City of Rocky Mount will be joined by Butterfield, as well as Rocky Mount High School’s Marching Band; Rocky Mount residents; the entertainment group, the Voltage Brothers, and others to recognize and celebrate the completion of Phase 1 of the Downtown Streetscape Project.
For more information on this FREE event, call 972-1332 or visit www.rockymountnc.gov.

Yes come on down and check out the new stuff they spent to much money on, Below is a side show from 2009, many Building have been redone, those Douglas block and very few (many one 4or so) from Main St..

check out the slide show and on the 30 how many of these Eye Sore Building are still there.

Rocky Mount Street Celebration

The friendly folks of the City of Rocky Mount would like to invite you the public to come downtown to see the new Streetscape,  (from Facebook)

Join us for Downtown Rocky Mount's Streetscape Celebration, Thursday, May 30 at 4 p.m., 119 Southeast Main Street. The keynote speaker will be Congressman G.K. Butterfield. There will be a performance by the Voltage Brothers and Rocky Mount High School's Drum Line. Come out to celebrate the new look of Downtown Rocky Mount!!!!

yes come checkout the new sidewalk and other items while you have to look at all the run down, eyesore building that still need work.. Cause you know these new roads and side walks will just bring the businesses..

The Douglas Block Project, is it worth the Money?

The Douglas Block is a public-private redevelopment project that will result in a thriving commercial center in Downtown Rocky Mount. Phase One of the Douglas Block calls for the renovation of six historically significant buildings, all of which comprised the African American business district of the downtown area in the early to mid-1900’s. The $8 million effort to redevelop this site has been financed by a combination of historic tax credits, new market tax credits, a Section 108 HUD Loan, and public investment. This special financing structure allows for unique and remarkable opportunities for locating your business at the Douglas Block.

Today was the so-called grand opening of this Block Happen. There was nice crowd of folks at this event.

Which by the way is noway finish at all. Yes, Most of the buildings are done and sidewalk is down, however No lamp posts are in yet, The road in front on of the Main Douglas Block Building isn't yet finish at all.  Landscaping is a joke, unless you truly love pine straw.

One of the Building have a large facade area damage, which I guess happen during the brick laying for the sidewalks, which is excellently done. So far the sidewalk are the best part of this Project..

Enjoy the Slide show...

Sidewalk Danger downtown on Sunset.

Remember this building where the city said that the building facade was about to fall on the street below. So the city had the facade removed that is what the building look like now. I wasn't there the day they tore the face of this building off. In the process of protecting the citizens from falling brick the heavy equipment that was used tore up the side walk (see the pic below). This huge crack in the sidewalk is a bigger damage to the citizens now. What if the v-shape caution sign gets removed one night and someone walking along steps in this crack, who would be at fault, the city would that's who.

The city need to fix this situation ASAP this is now a bigger hazard then the facade was of building ever was.

Gospel street fair

On Howard st
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Which one applies

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This could be

This is a great place to open a coffee sober cafe. Close to the local community college
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The future that could be

I believe the old US Post Office would make a great community Center instead of a office building.
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Could Rocky Mount Council be ripping the citizens of RMT???

Consideration of Sale of Certain Real Property Within Phase II of the Douglas Block Redevelopment Project (106-120 East Thomas Street; 128 East Thomas Street; the parcel north of the Douglas Block Building on N.E. Main Street; and the rear of the properties on Albemarle Avenue with the addresses 244-270 and 278-296 Albemarle Avenue) @ $2,500 to Rozellali Group, LLC.

picture below 
I really hope that this group isn't getting all this property for that price if so they are ripping off the citizens of Rocky Mount and the city council approved it

UPDATE: THE PART IN RED WILL BE A PARKING LOT THE PART THAT WAS BROUGHT IS WHERE ALL THE CARS ARE. However, they are still getting it for steal of a price.One end of the block being fixed up at a tune of 10s of millions while the other ends goes for $2500.00..

Work on Douglas Block goes on

So is this work really worth the grand total of 24+ millions, by the end of 2010???

Young Guy wait for train to pass

Work on Douglas Street as began

there is a slide show of the work so far

Another Downtown Crossing Work Complete

Sunset Crossing at Downtown was redone, the work take a few days,on this day the workers had to deal with a on coming train...

Douglas Block still not much happening

Well some building have been torn down the one they are saving have been gutted. The area look even worst now then it did with the old buildings intact. I guess more work will be done in the up coming year.. I can only hope that the City does something before the annual DownEast Festival, even more Building boarded up, looking very grim downtown, If I didn't know better I would swear that downtown Rocky Mount is a new training ground the Military.