THIS WEDNESDAY!!! March 13th

Public Kick-Off Meeting for the project to revise and update the Salisbury Historic District Design Guidelines, affecting properties in these local Historic Districts: 

• West Square 
• Brooklyn South Square 
• Ellis Street Graded School 
• North Main (NOMA) 
• Downtown Salisbury

Wednesday, March 13
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Salisbury City Hall
City Council Chamber
217 South Main St.
 
Property owners and residents are invited to participate in discussion about preservation issues and to offer feedback about the design guidelines. The Historic Preservation Commission follows these guidelines when issuing Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior changes to structures and sites located in historic districts.

Please come to this meeting if you can!

Spring Spruce-Up Week!! April 11-15, 2011

CITY OF SALISBURY COMMUNITY APPEARANCE COMMISSION & PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENT

SPRING SPRUCE-UP WEEK & APPLIANCE AND TIRE COLLECTION APRIL 11–15, 2011

The City of Salisbury will pick up your old appliances, tires without rims and extra bagged trash the week of April 11–15, 2011.

Place the items at the curb on your regular collection day before 7 a.m. In most of NOMA this is Tuesday mornings. NO BUILDING MATERIALS (carpet, padding, sheetrock, windows, lumber, commodes, sinks, etc.) WILL BE COLLECTED This collection is for RESIDENTS living inside the city limits of Salisbury only (no businesses). If you have questions, please call Public Services at 704-638-5260.

Let's make NOMA beautiful!!!

Bad News ~ No NSP Funding for Salisbury!

We received notification that Salisbury will not be receiving any Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding. This is very sad news - we were certain that we were well positioned to receive an award. The NSP program was to have assisted communities hit hardest by the housing crisis. States were required to identify areas of greatest need based on the number of foreclosure starts and other housing-related statistics.

Here are the folks in NC who DID receive a portion of the $52 million in grants:

Local Government Recipients: City of Raleigh, $2.5 million; Wake County, $2.5 million; City of Charlotte, $2.5 million; City of Greensboro, $2.5 million; City of Winston-Salem, $2.5 million; City of High Point, $2.5 million; City of Gastonia, $2 million; Henderson/Vance County, $2 million; City of Durham, $2 million; City of Rocky Mount, $2 million; City of Lexington, $2 million.

Non-profit Agency Recipients: St. Augustine, in Raleigh, $2 million; Charlotte Housing Authority, $2 million; Guilford Habitat for Humanity, $2 million; Forsyth Habitat for Humanity, $2 million; Passage Home (in Wake County), $2 million; Greensboro Housing Authority, $2 million.

Statewide Agency/intermediary Recipients: Self-Help Credit Union, $2.5 million; N.C. Community Development Initiative, $3.5 million; and N.C. Housing Finance Agency, $4 million.

There should be additional NSP funding available in the federal stimulus package and the city is hoping to be eligible to apply from some of that funding. Decisions on this program are still being finalized at the federal level.

Perhaps we should feel fortunate. If others are in greater need than we are here in terms of foreclosures, we should count our blessings ~ regardless of how much we looked forward to the revisions this grant could have afforded our community. We will continue our preservation efforts here on a grass-roots level - one house at a time!

What Were You Doing March 1st 2009?

Well we don't know what the rest of the world was doing on March 1st, but here in the beautiful North Main neighborhood at about 6:30 PM Sunday night we started to watch one of the most amazingly thick and steady snowfalls we've seen in a decade! We were very lucky not to have power lines break during this heavy, wet snowfall, and many trees suffered branch loss (not to mention our poor squashed and probably very confused spring flowers!), but when was the last time you saw anything so beautiful?! Children were delighted - you could not have had better snowball-snowman makin' snow!

Here's a few pictures of the neighborhood the next morning:

These crummy cell phone pictures sure don't do it justice, especially when the sun was making the WHOLE WORLD SPARKLE, but . . .

. . .Ya Gotta Luv It!



brrrrrr!

Councilman Takes Tour of Neighborhood

Hello Friends & Neighbors:

On February 4th, Board Members of the Old North Salisbury Association invited one of our City Council members to take a tour of the Old North Salisbury neighborhood with us. We knew that City Council was soon scheduled to take their 24th Annual Future Directions and Goal Setting Retreat February 12-13, 2009. With this in mind, we invited Councilman Bill Burgin, a former long-term resident of the North Main area, to tour the neighborhood and listen to some of our specific concerns. We took special care to outline many of the positive changes we have seen in the neighborhood over the past few years. We demonstrated where people have moved in, purchased and renovated our historic homes, and stayed to live in the homes, instead of renting them out. However we wished to call special attention to the need for ordinance enforcement in our area. We pointed out homes that have been allowed to deteriorate, homes that have been altered in appearance outside of the historic codes. We pointed out our 'hot-spots' for trouble, and we know every neighborhood has them, as well as our highlights. We had further discussions about the City's North Main Small Area Improvement Plan that appears to have no traction at all, because we have seen little impact to the area - even though the plan was approved at City Council in the summer of '07. We wished to impress upon Bill, in hopes he would share this with other Council and City Planning personnel, that we are determined to continue to make positive changes to this important Salisbury community and that we need the City's help to do so.

We are very grateful to Councilman Bill Burgin for taking the time with us that cold February morning to examine the neighborhood and hear our concerns. We thank Pat Sylvester, Sean Myers, and Sue McHugh for taking the time to conduct the tour and outline the specific topics and issues.

Bill urged us to keep going with our progress. He said that, "it is North Main's time and time for the City to devote attention here.". He further urged us to come forth at City Council Meetings with a formal presentation of our concerns. We have been discussing this at Board Meetings but have yet to develop the presentation or make the plans to get on the Council agenda. But with the positive reinforcement from our Councilman, we are better positioned to make this happen in the near future.

Holiday Shopping? Check Out What Old North Salisbury Neighbors Are Offering!

If you, like many of us, are holiday shopping and want to avoid the malls, we are proud to steer you towards what several of our neighbors have to offer!

(1) Have you been to * Hot Junk * 205 S Main St. * Salisbury NC * yet? Hey, some of us in this neighborhood could even walk there! Well our neighbor in the North Main/Steel Street area, Josef Medlin, is the owner and creator of this wonderful shop. And 'Hot Junk' is getting a lot of favourable comments like this one:

Whenever I am in town, Salisbury, I make a B-line to Hot Junk. I am a designer and artist from New York/ Florida and as everyone knows, New Yorkers know style, and this joint has style! Joseph has given a new meaning to the term "going green". He has taken the hot fashions of yesteryear and given them a new life. This is done by making patrons feel as though they are shopping in a high end Manhattan boutique. In our current economy, this is the type of thinking that makes people feel a little bit better about what they have in their pockets to spend on fashion. Kudos to you my friend. Keep up the great work work. ~ Donna Richardson, Port Lucie FL

'Hot Junk' is a recycled and vintage clothing shop. Vintage at 'Hot Junk' means from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Many items are less than $20, with some pieces in the $8 range. Josef would like to make 'Hot Junk' a true vintage clothing store with future plans to add some vintage furniture from the same eras.

Joseph has lived in the North Main St. neighborhood for about a year and half and chose Salisbury over Charlotte for its character and potential, and the people he's met here. Go Josef ~ we're so glad you're here!!

(2) How about * Robert Crum's Fine Art * 116 East Council Street * Salisbury NC * ? Robert Crum moved his studio and home to downtown historic Salisbury in 2002. In 2008, while keeping the Council St. studio, Robert made his home in the North Main Neighborhood in the Miller St./N. Main area. Welcome, Robert!!! Robert is a full-time professional oil painter and muralist. In his studio, he completes still lifes, portraits and figurative work using the same materials and methods utilized by the Masters for centuries. In 2005, he completed a porcelain mosaic mural on a 110 foot long exterior wall located in downtown Salisbury on Depot Street, and it is called “Smoke and Steel.” It is a public art project commissioned by the City of Salisbury. You really must see this! And while you are downtown, you will enjoy visiting Robert's studio in heart of historic Salisbury's downtown art district. You can contact Robert directly with any questions or inquiries about his works. Visit Robert's website at www.robertcrumfineart.com. Talk about a special holiday gift . . . A unique work of art that will last a lifetime!

(3) How about the gift of music? Who doesn't love music ~ the international language! You must really stop at * Stringfellows Music * 105 N. Main St. * Salisbury * !! Owned and operated by our neighbor and highly touted originally singer/songwriter Tripp Edwards of Jackson St. and a Salisburian native, Stringfellows is Salisbury's ONLY full service music store: instruments, strings, picks, pedals, lessons, repair center, recording studio, amplifiers, and over 2000 vintage LP's (at like $.50 each!!) for the audiofile on your list. Stringfellows will also purchase your used equipment so there's an opportunity for you to clean the closet, get that old fiddle out you meant to learn to play, and get some extra holiday cash as well! Many local musicians work at or visit Stringfellows so you are sure to be well informed and maybe even entertained! Before Stringfellows opened their doors on Main St. several years ago, there was no place in Salisbury to go for musical instruments and the like ~ the local musician had to travel to Concord or Greensboro! No Way! A huge thank you to our neighbor Tripp for filling this void!
(4) You've heard us brag about our neighbors Andrew & Anne Waters, also of the North Main & Steel St part of our neighborhood and their wonderful art gallery and yoga studio: * The Green Goat Gallery & Blue Ewe Yoga Studio * 516 S. Salisbury Ave. * Spencer NC *. Well what better time to stop by and pick up a wonderful gift of artwork be it hand crafted jewelry, pottery, or painting ~ or a great gift certificate for yoga classes from the Blue Ewe Yoga Studio for that person you know has been 'fixin to' getting fit! The Green Goat Gallery/Blue Ewe Yoga Studio is located on S. Salisbury Ave which in Salisbury is none other than our North Main St.! Just keep heading north along Main and slow down in Spencer (literally! - the speed limit there is 20 mph!) and when you see the North Carolina Transportation Museum on your right, look to your left to find the Green Goat Gallery and a good parking spot! We cannot say enough good things about this gallery (check our our earlier entry on the GGG). Thanks Andrew & Anne!!

(5) While you are out & about ~ making a list & checking it twice: Take time to relax over a hot cup of mocha latte whipped cream & all or your favorite coffee confection at * Spenzanelli's Coffee Shop * 329 N. Main St * Salisbury NC *. Our neighbors Carol & Keith Earnhardt of the Henderson St & North Main portion of our community keep this wonderful place a-hopping. Another great place to walk to within close reach of the North Main neighborhood ~ you can relax with your coffee, peruse works of art that Carol keeps current along the walls, play a game of Scrabble - all within walking distance of our wonderful downtown shops and galleries. Carol keeps the bakery case stocked with delicious muffins, bagels, and other wondrous tasties to keep your energy level high while you get your shopping done! Thanks to our neighbors Keith and Carol for another successful downtown biz and a great place to visit and hang out!

(6) After you've got your energy back, you ought to take a walk about a block over from Spenzanelli's Coffee to * The Rail Walk Studios & Galleries * 409–413 N Lee St. * Salisbury NC *. Two of our neighbors are showing their work there:
- Our neighbor Sean Meyers, alias Photagator (http://www.photogator.com/), has some beeeaaauuutiful black & white framed photos at the Rail Walk. Sean lives and works in the 1600 block of North Main St with his wife Elizabeth, two dogs Stella and Stanley and Pluto the cat. You may often see some of Sean's work in the Salisbury Post, but his real art is in these captured moments like the ones at the Rail Walk. More of Sean's work can be seen at the Green Goat Gallery. We are proud to say that Sean has also been known for his preservation efforts here in our neighborhood. He has restored his home on North Main and others to help retain the beautiful architecture here. Thanks, Sean!

- Our neighbor Jimmy Lee Alston has both his studio and gallery showing his fabulous oil paintings and pastels at the Rail Walk. If you have not been to see Jimmy and the other artists at the Rail Walk, you are really missing a bit of treasure in downtown Salisbury. And here is a treat: Jimmy will be performing live soft jazz December 17th, 2008, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. See why we are so proud of our Old North Salisbury residents? Way to go, Jimmy!

(7) Heading south for the winter ~ like to Albemarle? Our neighbors Scott & Heather Teeter of the Jackson St. & North Main area are the proud operators of * The Boardroom Bar and Bistro * 135 W Main St * Albemarle, NC * . Now you are really in for a treat! Starting with the ambiance: rich, deep red walls, a beautiful and enormous antique bar, wood & warm soft lighting with candles everywhere, you will not feel as if you are in a small town, but as if you are in the big city. Scott and Heather are often your hosts and will treat you graciously. The menu is getting 5-star reviews and is an elegant Italian bistro style cuisine! Way to go Scott & Heather! . . . and oh yes . . . YUM!!!

So here's your chance to bring a little bit of Old North Salisbury home for the holidays ~ and to share it with your friends & family. Hey ~ if we are leaving someone out, please let us know! We know this is just a sprinkling of the wonderful people, projects, businesses, and talented folks that make the North Main area their home and add vibrance to our community. We welcome the opportunity to showcase the wonderful contributions our neighbors are making to make our little world a better place to live. Here's wishing you a most wonderful holiday season from Old North Salisbury!

It's Official!! "Celebrate Old North Salisbury" Saturday Nov 8th City Park!!!

"Celebrate Old North Salisbury"

The Old North Salisbury Association is hosting a neighborhood social gathering!!!

When: Saturday November 8th

Time: 2:00 PM ~ 6:00 PM

Where: City Park Outdoor Pavilions

What: A celebration of the Salisbury's North Main area friends and neighbors!

Live Music On The Lawn: The Tripp Edwards Trio / No. 9 Coal / Alan Wyrick & Friends

Please Bring: A Covered Dish to Pass ~ Lawn Chairs ~ Picnic Blankets

ONSA will supply non-alcoholic beverages, cups, plates, and utensils.

We will be announcing some of the 2008 activities of the Association & some of our ongoing plans. There will be entertainment featuring Salisbury's own No. 9 Coal's own brand of bluegrass/newgrass, The Tripp Edwards Trio, and Alan Wyrick & Friends ~ all performing live original music and old familiars! Enjoy an afternoon in the park with music and friends!

If you live between Lafayette Street and 17th Street and between Jackson Street and the Southern Railway tracks to the east - you are in the Old North Salisbury neighborhood. Please come and participate in this wonderful opportunity to meet others in this community. We share a common bond here & we're looking forward to sharing it with YOU!!!

See you on November 8th in City Park

North Main Newsletter

In July, the Old North Salisbury Association sent out our first newsletter. This is something we would like to distribute on a routine basis, probably quarterly, so watch your mailboxes! We still do not know all the neighbors, residents, and homeowners in the community. We used a list of folks provided by the City of Salisbury's property tax info to try to get the news letter to your address. If you did NOT receive the letter ~ please let us know (oldnorthsalisbury@gmail.com) ! As time goes on we will be able to build an accurate list of members of our community...YOU, your friends, your neighbors, and the businesses in our area. This is important to YOU so that you can know what is happening in the community you live and work in. Copies of the letter can be found at Spenzanelli's Coffee Shop at the corner of Kerr St. and North Main St. if you missed out on getting one in your mailbox.

Our additional challenge is in seeing to it that both renters and landlords receive the news, as well as the homeowner-resident. If you rent at your residence, you are no less positioned to be a positive contributor to the community and we need your voice! As a landlords, you need to be aware of any changes in the community that may effect either your tenants or your property. So please, please make sure you are connected to the Old North Salisbury Association!

Another great avenue for receiving this local news update is, of course, the Internet. In the interest of going green, we can email the newsletter to you at a greatly reduced time and cost frame. Email us at oldnorthsalisbury@gmail.com, provide your contact information and email address. The more folks we can get tuned in the stronger we are as a community.

Strength in Numbers, My Friends & Neighbors!!!