2012 Main Street Champion - Jan Francouer

A city moving ahead: Laying the foundation to revive downtown

Neuse River waterfront late 1970's
Downtown New Bern

 

Trent River waterfront last 1970's
Downtown New Bern



In the 1970’s, the Central Business District (CBD) and city were at a critical juncture. The new mall enticed merchants to the outskirts of the city, roadways and incompatible land uses fragmented the downtown area into many small and marginally useful pieces of land and the downtown tax base continued to deteriorate as residents and businesses moved to the suburbs.

On the positive side, some steps had been taken in an attempt to re-establish a healthy core. The new Highway 70 by-pass was under construction, the urban renewal site (14 acres on the Trent River waterfront) was cleared and available for sale to potential investors. Tryon Palace had been restored and focused its marketing efforts on attracting tourists. 

The downtown was still essentially intact even though the facades of many buildings had been slipped covered with aluminum, tile and other materials in an attempt to compete with the new mall and gaps in the street scape where burned down or demolished buildings, were not rebuilt.

All of this was seen as a base to establish significant change in the downtown area, requiring clearly articulated objectives that would be understood by all segments of the community, strong leadership and a workable plan of action to this end.

In November 1976, the Downtown Revitalization Committee and Urban Renewal Commission contracted with Stephens Associates, Raleigh, NC, to prepare preliminary development plans and a program for downtown.  A month was spent collecting and interpreting market information followed by an intensive two week workshop. The Revitalization Committee (acting client group) met every other morning to review the consultants work.

Conclusions and recommendations (in addition to bringing a new market of recreation, tourism and retirees, creating a locally funded nonprofit to spearhead and coordinate the effort) was creation and adoption of a general physical development policy consisting of the following elements and based on the historic pattern.

·  An open space pedestrian spine along Middle Street connecting to the historic residential area with the urban renewal site.

·  A water edge pedestrian park system along the Trent and Neuse River shorelines.

·  Straight streets extending to the water.

·  Parking and sidewalks along street.

·  Buildings abutting the street right of way, extending the entire property width and two or three stories.

·  Re-establishment of the original building facades.

·  New parking, trash collection and delivery area constructed in the middle of each block.

·  Pedestrian ways established to allow convenient access from mid-block parking to the streets.

·  Develop and enforce a CBD sign ordinance.

The recommended first phase of redevelopment to include:

·  Mid block parking, trash and service area construction.

·  Mid block parking to street pedestrian ways.

·  Building façade renovation.

·  Expanding sidewalks with plantings and a pedestrian crossing on Middle Street.

·  Housing in vacant upper floors.

Redevelopment projects for the future include:

·  Narrowing Broad Street, adding plantings.

·  Underground utilities.

·  A mall on Middle Street.

·  Open space acquisition and construction of water edge park-pathway system.

The Plan was approved and adopted by the New Bern Board of Aldermen on July 19, 1977.

Revitalization Committee: T. Doug Davis, Chairman; Charles  Kimbrell, Mayor; Frank Hargett, County Commissioner; Bailey Dixon, President, Merchant Association; W.J. Edwards, Redevelopment Commission. Ex-officio members: Harry Vatz, Renewal Authority; Charles Taylor, Housing Authority; Nicholas Scholz, Chamber of Commerce. Renewal Authority; John G. Dunn, Chairman; Sam P. Branch; William  Bryan; Walter Jones, Jr.; Harry Vatz, William Edwards, Executive Director. City Officials; Charles Kimbrell, Mayor; Board of Aldermen: Ben Hurst, Pete Chagaris, Tom Davis, Ed Armstrong, Ella Bengal; J.C. Outlaw, City Manager.

Implementation of the first phase and creation of a funding mechanism will be related in a future column.

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director

Sunrise Business Update - January Meeting Overview

The inaugural “Sunrise Business Update” took place at Baker’s Kitchen on Thursday morning, January 31, 2013 and was attended by 49 members of the local community.

Those in attendance listened as John Gibson, Member-Manager, Hull, Storey, Gibson, Inc. of Augusta, Georgia (and owners of the New Bern Mall) provided an update of their properties throughout the Southeast as well as a look at plans down the road for New Bern.

Initially addressing community concerns about Cracker Barrel and their decision not to locate at the New Bern Mall, Mr. Gibson said: “…let me assure you, the city has been entirely supportive in the process of trying to bring Cracker Barrel to the market…”  Gibson further indicated: “…we were unable to reach terms, mutually agreeable, with Cracker Barrel…”

Mr. Gibson, accompanied by Mr. John Hudson, Leasing Manager for Hull, Storey, Gibson, Inc., indicated it was always a pleasure to visit such a pretty town as New Bern and would welcome the opportunity to return and update the community in the future.

The Sunrise Business Update, a bi-monthly event and jointly hosted by Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation & The New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its next “Sunrise Business Update” on Thursday, March 28, 2013 (Baker’s Kitchen – 8:00 AM) with Taylor Downey of Craven Thirty as the guest speaker. The event is open to the public and reservations are required by calling the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce at 252-637-3111 or E-Mail: SMilliron@NewBernChamber.com

John Gibson, Manager
Hull Story Gibson Inc

Ernie Richardson, Chairman
New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce



Bob Mattocks, Chairman
Swiss Bear Downtown Development




Phil Prescott, Manager
Baker's Kitchen



 

MUMFEST 2013 Survey - looking for new venues

Lisa Bisbee has designed our new logo ... we love it and hope you do too. The www.mumfest.com website is being updated and vendor applications will soon be mailed to those who participated last year.

We are now looking for new venues to add to the long list of events and activities and retire some that begin to be a bit of a "ho-hum" to festival-goers. To do that, we need your input.

We have a short survey that we would like our readers to fill out and share with friends and family. It is very brief, won't take more than a few minutes of your time and your input will be greatly appreciated.

Please take the survey by clicking here. Thank you!

We look forward to hearing from you.

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

Sunrise Business Update

Swiss Bear and the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce are happy to announce we are partnering to provide Sunrise Business Update, to the business community.

Beginning January 31, bi-monthly Sunrise Business Update meetings will kick-off with featured speaker, John W. Gibson, attorney with Hull Story Gibson, owners of the New Bern Mall on MLK Jr. Boulevard. Gibson's work at Hull Story Gibson includes the acquisition, financing and operation of retail properties.

The meetings will be held 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. at Baker's Kitchen, 227 Middle Street in the second floor meeting room with a full buffet breakfast. The cost of $10 per person, will be collected at the beginning of the meeting.

Due to limited seating, reservations are required by contacting the Chamber; email smilliron@newbernchamber.com or call 637-3111. Reservations for the January 31 meeting are required by the end of  Tuesday, January 29th workday.

The schedule of the bi-monthly programs for the calendar year is: January 31, March 28, May 30, July 25, September 26, December 5.

A complete listing of speakers for the year will be published in the near future.

The goal in initiating this project/program is to provide an opportunity for the business community to meet and hear presentations from business professionals on topics that are important and timely to New Bern, Craven County and Eastern North Carolina.

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director

Kudos to Jan Francouer, A Main Street Champion

Jan Francoeur
Owner of Carolina Creations

On Thursday, January 31, Janet Francoeur, owner of Carolina Creations will be recognized by the Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce as a 2012 Main Street Champion at the NC  Main Street Annual Awards ceremony in Salisbury.

As a member of the NC Main Street Program, Swiss Bear is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion…a person who brings fresh ideas to downtown, is a reliable volunteer for a downtown special event, is a creative building owner whose renovation respects the architectural and history significance of the structure and is committed to the downtown privatization effort.

Jan Francoeur fits the description, for sure. Well-known, well-liked, an innovative entrepreneur, Jan and her husband own a business which is a recognized downtown destination. She and Michael are downtowners through and through.

We appreciate the many contributions of time and talent Jan has contributed to the downtown effort and are happy to add her name to the list of the many other Main Street Champions.

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director

MUMFEST 2012 Is Here!



Setting up Indy Tour in early morning hours



Locating the necessities



Michael's Amusements...ready for festival goers

It’s hard to believe, MUMFEST is just hours away. The city is busy overseeing the set-up of the Indy Racing Tour, portable restrooms and the rest of the items on their “To Do” list. Bud Van Slyke, an outstanding volunteer who has overseen the Boat Show and Union Point Park for the past 10 years, has been at the park for most of the week and will be there all day today orchestrating the set-up of the boats, vendors, pool assembly. The hustle and bustle is growing in intensity with the goal of having everything ready for Saturday morning at 9:30 am when the party begins!

If it seems in the past month or so, the daily posts have been focused primarily on MUMFEST, it’s true. In the two or three months prior to the festival, our time is consumed with taking care of the many chores that are required to prevent utter chaos.  It is labor intensive, but well-worth the effort when vendors begin arriving, know  where to set-up, know the rules and things go smoothly.

Vendors begin arriving on Friday and setting up after 6 p.m. Many chose to set-up Friday evening and many also arrive early Saturday morning. The same is true for the attractions and vendors.

Once the confusion of  set up is over, the fun begins with two days of numerous venues, savory foods, hundreds of vendors with a myriad of products.

Danielle and I appreciate all the support the community extends to this event and our biggest wish is that everyone will have a grand time.

See you at MUMFEST!

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director