Bryson City seeks citizen input in land-use plan
Want to build anything you want in a downtown location that receives a ton of visitors each summer? Then Bryson City, with its total lack of rules governing development, is just the place for you.
Small town success: Retiring DWA Director Ron Huelster talks about his days on Capitol Hill, the scourge of malls, and his vision for small town America
By Michael Beadle
When Waynesville Town Manager Lee Galloway meets fellow town managers from across the state, he inevitably hears his counterparts say, “Your town looks great. What’s your secret?”Without a beat, Galloway replies, “Let me give you a phone number and a name.”
Common goal is the same – a thriving downtown
Downtown Sylva is a special place. The events of the last couple of months only reinforce that fact, and so the momentum to create a better, closer and more unified business community should continue.
Sylva downtown group to hire executive director
Downtown Sylva Association members have voted unanimously to hire an executive director, setting the organization up to more actively advocate for the downtown community.
Many Sylva building owners support downtown tax
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer
Most business and property owners have reacted positively to a Downtown Sylva Association proposal to create a municipal service district that would tax the downtown area to pay for improvements, say DSA officials.
Sylva proposal includes performance area, market space
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer
In an effort to heal wounded relationships in the downtown Sylva community, local residents and leaders are uniting to develop an underused area of downtown into an attractive, accessible and functional public park.
Waynesville ‘blew them all out of the water’
Preliminary results of a zip code market analysis being conducted in Waynesville shows signs of a strong and healthy retail economy.
DSA rallies support to oppose funding cut
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer
Sylva town board members should expect a heated public comment session at their upcoming meeting on Thursday, July 6, as Downtown Sylva Association members are rallying support to persuade aldermen to overturn their decision to cut the organization’s funding from $20,000 to $2,000.
Franklin hires Main Street coordinator
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer
A month into her new job as Franklin’s Main Street Program Coordinator, Nancy Deeks is just starting to get things organized.
She helped out with the town’s annual Taste of Scotland Festival, held this past weekend. And now, with town aldermen having recently appointed the last remaining board members to which Deeks will answer, Deeks is sorting through the bylaws of eight other Main Street organizations trying to come up with something specifically tailored to Franklin’s needs.
Metal building in downtown Bryson raises eyebrows
A metal building recently erected on Main Street in Bryson City has sparked discussion over what can be done to preserve the town’s historic character while still remaining business-friendly.
