Before and after photos of the Downtown Dunn Revitalization Program, completed in 2013. The $2.9 million project moved overhead utilities underground, installed cantilevered traffic signals, and reconstructed streets and sidewalks in a nine-block area. page and Colonial and Classical Revival. Most buildings range from 1900 to circa 1959, with one structure constructed in 1886. “We are fortunate to have so large an array of historical architecture,” says newly installed City Manager, Steven Neuschafer. “We are happy to have such a great downtown, while we always continue to look for ways to make improvements.” REVITALIZATION The heart of downtown Dunn underwent a major overhaul after receiving a $2.9 million USDA Rural Development Loan in 2010. Downtown businesses and services soldiered through the two-year long Downtown Dunn Revitalization Project as the streets and sidewalks were ripped out in stages to accommodate the improved infrastructure. The project relocated overhead utilities underground, installed cantilevered traffic signals, and graded and reconstructed streets and sidewalks with new paving, curb work, and guttering in the nine-block area. A non-profit organization, Downtown Dunn Development Corporation (DDDC), headed by Dal Snipes, worked in cooperation with the City of Dunn during the downtown revitalization project. Several downtown property owners also took advantage of matching grants offered by the DDDC to update and enhance the building facades, adding to the beauty of downtown. CONTINUING TOWARD THE FUTURE Last month, The DDDC established a new subcommittee — the Downtown Development Association, chaired by Dunn businessman William Elmore — which hired Keilah Goff as Director of Downtown Development. The new association will focus on strengthening the mix of businesses downtown while preserving the historical characteristics of existing buildings. Their efforts will concentrate on recruiting and retaining businesses and coordinating promotional events throughout the year. Members of the association encompass business and property owners in the Dunn Municipal Service District, a designated tax district encompassing 28 blocks. The association hopes to work in cooperation with the city to eventually qualify for the N.C. Main Street program — considered the state’s leading resource in downtown revitalization, which provides state money through a competitive grant process. The federal program, overseen in the state by the N.C. Department of Commerce, has been used to successfully revitalize more than 1,600 communities across the U.S. The program focuses on organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring. Today, downtown Dunn offers a wide selection of locally owned services, shopping, and highly-acclaimed dining, and is preparing to welcome several exciting new businesses and amenities. Additionally, the Dunn Area History Museum is preparing to move from its temporary home into the historic Prince’s Department Store Building on the corner of North Broad Street and North Wilson Avenue. The merchants and business owners of Downtown Dunn extend a warm invitation for visitors to come enjoy all charm and hospitality the vibrant historic downtown has to offer! 9
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