Morganton Looking to Add Downtown Housing for Millennials

MORGANTON, NC –  Abby Gentry moved to downtown Morganton almost two years ago. “I fell in love with Morganton when I came to visit the first time,” Gentry says.

She’s one of a growing number of millennials attracted to the new shops, restaurants, and breweries.

“I can walk to work. I walk to our Friday night concerts, to restaurants,” she explains.

Town leaders say there are more millennials like Abby who want to live downtown, but right now there aren’t many options.

Main Street Director Sharon Jablonski and Mayor Ronnie Thompson are trying to attract a developer to build more housing geared toward younger people.

“We have 293 people living downtown now, and everything has a waiting list. There’s no where else to go. So we know that we’ve got to develop more housing,” Jablonski says.

City leaders say they’re looking at all sorts of options, from redeveloping existing buildings to building brand new ones.

“We have no preconceived notions. We’re looking at Seattle, we’re looking at Durham, we’re looking at Charlotte, we’re looking at Asheville,” Thompson says.

Judy Willis was one of the first people to move downtown. She owns the building where she lives and rents to businesses downstairs.

“I love it. I’m within walking distance of seven different restaurants. I’m in walking distance of the theater,” Willis explains.

She says she’d love to see more people added to the growing activity around downtown businesses.

“The more people we have, the better the town will grow and it’s just, we just need more people, more younger people, and they’re coming,” Willis says.