Growth & Gains: Mount Holly Looks to Revitalize Downtown
While the response has been overwhelmingly positive, some residents are balking at the $13 million price tag.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — “It’s such an exciting time to be here in Mount Holly,” City Manager Jonathan Blanton can’t help but gush about what’s ahead.
“The city of Mt. Holly has done a fantastic job laying out a clear strategic vision plan, six core values that clearly lay the footprint through where the city wants to go.”
He’s talking about the Veteran’s Park expansion plan – an ambitious project to revitalize downtown, complete with an amphitheater, splash pad, shopping district, and mixed-use residential buildings.
Mayor David Moore sees this as a major flashpoint for the rapidly growing city.
“The more people that come in town, they’re going to shop, they’re going to eat at our restaurants, and it being a bigger focus to downtown Mt. Holly,” says Moore.
The current Veteran’s Park is marked by a thin strip of land between Catawba Avenue and Glendale Avenue, just south of the city center. This expansion would push all the way into Central Avenue and expand westward into the heart of the city – which held a town hall meeting with residents Thursday night.
“It’s all about transparency, input from our citizens, which is very important to us,” Moore adds.
And residents made sure their voices were heard.
“I think it’s great. I think the city is in good hands, for one,” says William Brooks, who’s spent nearly 40 years in the Gaston County suburb.
“I think if the strategic vision plan goes as planned, it’ll be wonderful for the citizens of Mount Holly.”
Some are a bit more skeptical about the plan – especially when it comes to the price tag.
“You see a $13 million project, and you’ve only $8 million that you can allocate toward it, my math’s not all that good, but that’s $5 million in the hole,” says Eddie Wilson, a lifelong Mount Holly resident.
Despite a few roadblocks, Wilson and his friend, Gary Neely, still think this would be a great addition to the city – especially if outside parties can help shoulder the load.
“The developer would be responsible for paying taxes on that, and paying a large part of the upkeep for the project, so I think it’s got great possibilities,” Neely says.
