Resurfacing of Roanoke Avenue will also pave the way for several streetscape projects Main Street Roanoke Rapids has sought to implement in which the focus will be to enhance public safety.
To aid in making those improvements a reality, city council appropriated $50,000 Tuesday night which will serve as matching funds to state Department of Transportation funds.
Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle said this morning DOT offered to give the city an additional $50,000 if council provided the match.
As it stands now, the $100,000 will cover the top five projects Main Street wants to see implemented during the resurfacing project. While the work is slated to be completed by fall of 2019, a start date has not yet been announced by DOT.
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The opening of the green space at 1026 Roanoke Avenue will coincide with the Halifax County Arts Council’s Arts on the Avenue annual event in May.
Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle told city council Tuesday evening the arts council has put out a call to artists, photographers and performers interested in taking part in the event, which will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the 900 and 1000 blocks of the avenue May 24.
(There is no fee for an artist, photographer or performer to take part in the event; nor is there any commission charged on artistic sales. To express interest in participating as an artist, photographer or performer send an email to the arts council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to the council at Halifax County Arts Council, PO Box 374, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870. Include your address and telephone number in all communications)
Preparations for the open space have been ongoing for the past year, Caudle said Monday and have included replacing the concrete pad and adding a sidewalk which extends outward toward the public parking space behind 1026.
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Murals to be placed at the urban green space at 1026 Roanoke Avenue will pay tribute to the city’s rail, river and textile history.
Roanoke Rapids Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle had the murals on display during the Main Street annual dinner Monday.
The murals are the works of local artist Napoleon Hill and feature the depot near Roanoke Avenue and Julian R. Allsbrook Highway; the Roanoke Canal Museum, formerly a power station and the Rosemary Mill before much of it was demolished.
The Halifax County Arts Council funded the commission of the mural through a Grassroots Art Program grant.
The location of the green space was home to the former Roanoke Restaurant. “This was a major safety concern,” Caudle said at the meeting.
The facade of the building was saved and work on improvements is underway. It will eventually have tables and chairs and a water feature, Caudle said. The tables and chairs will be in a courtyard-style and it will have seat walls coinciding with the landscaping retention.
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Main Street Roanoke Rapids Monday night honored businesses and presented an overview of its accomplishments over the last year.
Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle reported over the last year there were 31 facade improvements, six building rehabs and two public improvement projects.
The total for the program to date is 121 facade improvements, 57 building rehabs and 16 public improvement projects.
There was a net of 52 jobs created. Over the course of the program there have been 493 jobs created and 132 lost for a net of 361 new jobs.
Caudle reported 20 new business openings, four closings and one expansion. She noted more than 50 percent of the new business openings represent the service industry and the four which have closed are retail.
Over the life of the program there have been 137 business opened, 39 closed and four expansions.
Volunteer hours over the last year are at 1,350 and represent a savings of $29,538. In the program to date there have been a total of 11,458 volunteer hours and $250,701 in in-kind volunteering.
There were seven events this year bringing in 2,500 people who spent $16,000. Over the course of the program there have been 19,300 visitors who have spent $112,000.
Private investment reached $4,051,130, a 124 percent increase over the last year. Some of that included the Food Lion and Burger King rehab, Caudle said, noting the bulk of that was small business investment.
Public investment was up 112 percent. At $461,247, that number includes the work on the public green space at 1026 Roanoke Avenue.
Total investment on the avenue is expected to hit $10 million next year. There has been a $1,330,370 public investment made over the course of the program and $7,648,108 in private investment. Total investment over the course of the program is at $8,978,478.
A total of $48 million in private investment is expected through 2019, including Project Chips at Kapstone, the new credit union on Tenth Street and Mill City Market opening in the Countryside Interiors building.
Roanoke Rapids has been in the program since 2009, Caudle said. “People see the value of downtown revitalization. People are looking for quality of life. People know one of our largest assets is our rich history.”
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One thing the Roanoke Valley people enjoy doing is dining out....the 1020 is a great place to do just that, they have an excellent menu.
They are located at 1020 Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, NC. They have an excellent menu filled with food like Prime Rib, Ribeyes, Crab Cakes, Flounder, and chef's specials most nights. They have a large selection of wines, microbrews, domestic beers, and imported beers.
The next time you dine out, give the 1020 a try and support the Avenue!
