Thursday, July 19, 2007

Balancing Small Town Charm with Economic Viability


Murfreesboro faces significant challenges in the planned development of the land along the riverfront. Hopefully we'll know a little more about the site's future in the coming months.

A potential buyer and developer would have a prime piece of real estate, nestled in the heart of historic downtown Murfreesboro. But they'd also have a unique problem: building something that's cost effective while maintaining the historic integrity of the area. The location of the original King's Landing, the Murfree House, the Indian Queen Tavern, the Dr. Thomas O'Dwyer residence, and by some accounts a significant nineteenth century free-black community, fall within the area being considered for possible development.

The site needs structures that will enhance Historic Murfreesboro and that will last and get better over time. Understandably, the development needs to be economically viable for the private sector, but it also needs to be something that starts out good and ages even better. One cannot overstate the importance of crafting a development that enhances the historic district. From a visitor's standpoint, it is the one element that best sets Murfreesboro apart from other northeastern North Carolina towns.

(stay tuned ... more thoughts to come)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My Uncle Ed Harris was the chief of Police for a good long time there in town. As a kid he'd let me look in at the guns in the evidence locker! That was AWESOME for me, mad my day when ever that happened! I also remember my aunt dating a, lets say, Bid'ness man involved in Vice Services somewhere between town and Ahoskie(sp?). He used to drive around in a limo...little guy in a big car! ha!