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Main Street Manager Joy Almond and Development Services Director Kevin Robinson delivered reports to Albemarle City Council at the board’s regular meeting on Sept. 16.
In presenting the Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation’s (ADDC) annual report, Almond noted that the organization’s mission statement has been updated.
“Albemarle offers a welcoming downtown experience in the heart of Stanly County and the Uwharrie region. It celebrates abundant recreational activities, artistic creativity, culture, culinary delights and libations, and is a thriving business community supported by engaged downtown residents and college students,” said Almond in delivering the updated statement.
“The updating of this statement is a reflection of who we want to be as a downtown,” she continued. “Formerly, it identified us as the ‘Gateway to the Uwharries,’ but we felt, with our resources such as our lakes and Morrow Mountain, that we are an actual part of the Uwharrie region, and our plan of work moving forward is a reflection of that.”
Almond continued by noting statistics related to investment in the downtown area, including $1.6 million in public investment and $11.6 million in private investments.
“There were two facade improvements, two overall building improvements, six new businesses and a net gain of 39 jobs within the downtown municipal service district,” she added.
Almond also noted that ADDC volunteers donated 497 hours of work during the year, valued at nearly $16,000, and recognized John Williams, who was selected “Main Street Champion” by the organization for the year.
Programs in partnership with Stanly County and NC Arts organizations were conducted by ADDC during 2023-24, including restoration of a “ghost sign,” (the third such since 2022) as well as “Make Music Day” and “Downtown Art Walk,” both conducted during June.
“Another role of ADDC is to offer matching grants to assist in facade improvements, signage, landscaping, and other means to activate storefronts,” Almond said, noting that during 2023-24 the organization awarded more than $5,000 to downtown businesses for such purposes.
“It’s a privilege to be part of these positive changes going on downtown,” she said in closing.
“This didn’t just happen,” commented Councilman Benton Dry. “I’m glad people are seeing the difference in downtown over the past few years.”
Robinson provided an update on the status of the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which is in the first phase of a projected 18-month process.
“We are currently in step one, which involves data collection and analysis and consultant-led studies,” said Robinson, who added that a 12-member steering committee has been assembled.
“It’s a good group that brings a lot of experience to the table,” he said.
According to Robinson, the committee will next meet in October and again in January.
“Our next steps are to wrap up this first phase and move into the planning phase,” he said. “This will involve five or six meetings, the first few of which are crucial to the development of the plan,” he said.
A public kickoff meeting will be held on Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the E.E. Waddell Community Center.
“This will be a city-wide kickoff meeting for the plan led by the consultants,” Robinson noted. “It will be kind of an open house, where people can drop in and give their feedback in various ways.”
Robinson also noted that “eight or nine community/neighborhood meetings” will be conducted throughout the city by staff in late November and early December.
“We actually want to drill down and see what some of the needs and goals are in the different neighborhoods,” he added.
“How will this mesh with our strategic plan?” asked Councilman Chris Bramlett.
“The strategic plan is geared more toward the internal goals of the city,” replied Robinson, “whereas the comprehensive land use plan is something that various entities — public, private and nonprofit — will be able to use if they want to bring development or locate a business somewhere in the city. It’s a little more general and less specifically targeted.”
Other business addressed by the council included:
• Approval of road closures for the Albemarle Downtown Fall Festival on Oct. 24.
• Award of a Request for Qualifications to Raftelis Financial Consultants for a System Development Fee Study.
• Approval of addition of a Design-Build Policy to the city’s Procurement Policies.
• A closed session to consult with the city attorney and to discuss real estate matters.
The next meeting of Albemarle City Council will take place on Monday, Oct. 7. A workshop to review proposed parking changes in the downtown area will be held at 5 p.m., immediately preceding the council meeting, which will begin at 6:30.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.