RMT State of the City Address

Rocky Mount Mayor David Combs will deliver the third annual State of the City Address, Mon., Feb.. 10, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the third floor George P. Dudley City Council Chamber of the Frederick E. Turnage Municipal Building (City Hall). The public is invited to attend.

Do we really need this, anyone who lives in Rocky Mount, NC knows how the city is doing,, it was once on the Rise, not it has flat lined..

Rocky Mount Event Center next Step

Via the Rocky Mount Government FB page.

Question asked,

When will the next community Meeting concern the Event Center be held?

Answer,

No community meeting has been scheduled. The next step will be the presentation of a financial plan in March. An agenda will be posted on the City's website closer to that date.

So does this mean that the community of Rocky Mount will or will not get it’s chance to air their opinion on this project.

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.

Downtown Festival

Harambee Festival is still going on strong. More great music and vendors have arrive, one is selling green candy apples they look so good. Those whom didn't show, you are missing a lot of fun.
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People starting to have fun

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More folks are showing up

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Downtown Festival

For a much talked about festival tied in with the grand opening of the Douglas Block not much is happening at all here. (at that time)

There is about two vendors here. Those that present are the Boys and Girl clubs of Nash and Edgecombe Counties, the food vendors, three gift type vendors and Great Healthy. With more on the way, I'm sure.

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Trail work at Battle Park

City has money problems like most cities, however they found money to rip up parts of the Battle Park walking trail and I guess soon will be laying a new asphalt one.

photo is copyrighted to James Smith (c)jamestsmith72@gmail.com..

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...

City to Recover Cost of tearing down homes in Rocky Mount

Public Hearing Relative to the Preliminary Assessment Roll Prepared to Recover Costs Incurred by the City in Connection with Housing Code Enforcement on the Following Properties:

a. 400 Cedar Street
b. 401 Cedar Street
c. 625 Clyde Street
d. 535/537 Cokey Road
e. 541 Cokey Road
f. 208 S. Howell Street
g. 930 Lancaster Street
h. 937 Lindsey Street
i. 941/943 Lindsey Street
j. 324 Raleigh Road
k. 305 Smith Street
l. 1001 Star Street
m. 1113 W. Thomas Street
n. 319 W. Thomas Street
o. 633 Woodland Avenue

A~ Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution Confirming Assessments.

I wonder how much the city spent and how much they will recover from these properties 

Work Progress on a Douglas Block Building

This shot the building has a tree growing out of it.The tree has been remove and there was some damage.The Damage area reframed and fill in with bricks from the site of the older building. Glad to see some older bricks are being reused in this project Working on the face of the building

Beer sales at event

Ok so for the downtown live event you can drink almost all you want, however you can't drink it out of the. They want you to use plastic cups creating more waste. Cans are 100% recyclable why most plastic cups aren't. This event is not earth friendly I can only guess the city hasn't gone green yet. What a shame
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The beer station

Seen to the money maker at downtown live
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More and more

People still pouring in to the city sponsored Downtown live event here at the Imperial Center.
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Downtown Live

Today's downtown live attendance was larger then the last. Families flock to this free event to socialize and relax.

However the selling of beer is still wrong for this type if venue.
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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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Booker T Theater before

The Booker T Theater opened as the Savoy Theater around 1926

This is how this building look for many years before they (city) decided to redo the Douglas Block..

The Brooker T Theater

Lot of rotten wood, will they they try to save the over hang or will they completely replace it?