Downtown redesign on right track

The city is putting the finishing touches on a redevelopment project that promises to dramatically improve the appearance of the historic downtown corridor.

After three years of preparation, the planning phase of the streetscape project is winding up, and city officials hope to put the $5 million project out to bid early next year.

New streetlights, walkways, benches, street signs, trees and flowers are among the changes leaders hope will make downtown more aesthetically pleasing to residents and more attractive to commercial and residential investors.

Downtown residents and business owners are expressing cautious optimism that the project will foster development. Aside from concerns over a proposed switch to parallel parking on Main Street, most downtown stakeholders who have been involved in the planning process appear to be behind the project.

Similar revitalization plans in New Bern and Asheville have been successful, following the strategy of implementing public investment to spur prior development. There’s certainly no reason to think that Rocky Mount can’t help but benefit from giving the downtown a new look.

A cleaner, more attractive downtown certainly will be a plus when potential investors visit the area to have a look around.

The Issue

Planning nearly complete for city’s streescape project.

Our View

Downtown can certainly use the makeover.

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