SALISBURY — Downtown Salisbury facades in different stages of improvement served as examples Thursday for a state workshop.
The N.C. Downtown Development Association hosted the event, “Facade Improvements 101.” More than 30 people attended and heard from four presenters about facade grants.
They experienced the impacts of Salisbury’s grant program by touring the downtown.
Officials from as far away as Plymouth, N.C., were on hand to hear presentations from Jason Epley of Benchmark CMR, Salisbury architect Gray Stout, Downtown Salisbury Inc. Executive Director Randy Hemann and Dana Hart, Rowan County’s director of building code enforcement.
The workshop covered topics like funding alternatives, design criteria, rehabilitation code issues and starting or re-establishing a grant program.
The presenters also toured projects like the McNeely Young Building (Southern Spirit Gallery), the Hedrick Building (Critters), 101 S. Main (Pottery 101) and the Hardiman Building, which is under construction and will house Bangkok Garden on the first floor and leased office space on the second and third floors.
The N.C. Downtown Development Association is a non-profit membership organization made up of towns, downtown development organizations, chambers of commerce and private professionals.
The association functions as a center for information, a resource for technical training and educational forums, a clearinghouse of ideas, and an advocate for public policy that supports downtown revitalization. Hemann serves as the president.