Downtown Davidson (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net photo)

Davidson’s Main Street recently gained more attention for the great place that it is: The North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association picked downtown as a “Great Main Street” in its second annual “Great Places in North Carolina” initiative.

Meanwhile, Union Street in downtown Concord was the People’s Choice for “Great Main Street.” And the Riverwood neighborhood in Clayton, NC., was the People’s Choice for “Great Neighborhood for Kids.” Read the full story

Map shows location of the two new buildings. (Davidson United Methodist Church)

Architect’s concept for a proposed addition at Davidson United Methodist Church. (Davidson United Methodist/ADW Architects)

DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson United Methodist Church plans to build two new buildings on its South Main Street campus to fill a need for more office, classrooms and meeting space. Church members approved the $7 million expansion plan at a congregation meeting last month. Now the church is turning its attention to raising money, refining its plans and seeking approval from the regional Methodist Church conference.

A study committee worked with ADW Architects over the past couple of years and came up with a plan for two new buildings: one an extension of the current building at 233 S. Main St. that would take over part of the church parking lot along South Main, and another behind the McKay Youth House, across South Main Street. Read the full story

Davidson’s downtown zoning encourages density to support retail shops along Main Street, and allows multistory buildings. That’s Stowe’s Corner at right, the CVS pharmacy and offices center, and the Mooney’s Corner office building under construction on the left. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By MARY NEWSOM
Citiwire.net

Mary Newsom

It’s a common story around the Sun Belt: Rural hamlet near larger town blinks and finds it’s now a booming suburb in the orbit of a much larger, sprawling city. Years of attracting people looking for a small town and a private getaway have built a fabric of large lawns and scattered houses, and more lawns and more houses. Where does it go from here?

When I moved to Charlotte more than 30 years ago, Matthews was the suburb. It lay directly in the path of the major growth trajectory – southeast. The drive to central Charlotte was a reasonable 25-30 minutes. The cute, but miniature, downtown Matthews and a few surrounding blocks of turn-of-the-century houses gave a historic feel and sense of small-town identity to a place that, in fact, was accumulating mostly standard subdivisions and strip shopping centers. Read the full story

Davidson’s Design Review Board will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., at Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St., Davidson. The agenda includes discussion of exterior renovations at Community School of Davidson High School; changes in the exterior at the planned Mooney’s Corner, which is being built at 212 S. Main St.; and renovations at 202 S. Main St., for the Pickled Peach Restaurant.

ADDED to agenda Sept. 11 -  MSC Industrial Direct will show the board a revised brick selection for its corporate offices off I-77 Exit 30.

The Davidson Design Review Board will meet Wednesday, May 16, to hear a presentation about a proposed restaurant renovation at the rear of 202 S. Main St., the former pilates studio behind Ben & Jerry’s. The board also will discuss planning ordinance revisions for murals and rules for the board’s responsibilities as the town’s Historic Preservation Commission. Read the full story

Davidson School, 251 South St. (formerly Davidson IB Middle School). (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Speakers at a public hearing last Tuesday, Feb. 14, offered support for designating the former Davidson IB School on South Street as a historic landmark. Supporters included both the property owner, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, and its current tenant, Lake Norman Christian School. Read the full story