The Boone Town Council, headed by Mayor Dalton George, convened on Sept. 9, with council members Anne Pruitt, Adrian Tait, Virginia Roseman, Anitra Ball present, and Mayor Pro Tempore Todd Carter joining online. The meeting addressed a range of town matters, including updates on downtown development, the impact of traffic changes on local businesses, and a focus on workforce housing initiatives.
Amy Forrester, owner of Fizz Ed, advocated for local businesses affected by construction on Howard Street. Forrester reported a nearly 28% drop in sales for Fizz Ed since Aug. 5, when traffic flow on Howard Street changed. She described this as a “catastrophic figure” for her business, emphasizing that this is a permanent change, not a temporary road closure.
Downtown Development Director Lane Moody provided updates on downtown Boone. Moody reported “one of the best turnouts we’ve ever had” for the Downtown Boone Development Association annual meeting, hosted on King Street several weeks prior. Boone is now 33 years into the North Carolina Main Street Community Program, which supports economic development for communities under 50,000 residents.
The Downtown Boone Board of Directors recently added Frances Keel as an ex officio member and Annie Jones from the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. The Board also hired Mike Durrett from Banner Elk as Boone’s new Downtown Specialist. Downtown Boone has utilized Main Street program funds to provide photo and video services to local businesses through Roseland Photography and has received an additional $25,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission. In the past year, downtown Boone has seen over $6 million in private investments, including the sale of Campus Hill Apartments and other hotel developments. The Economic Vitality Committee of the Downtown Boone Development Association is currently considering the creation of a Howard Street social district. Further downtown initiatives include considering a mural in an alleyway next to Off the Rack and a historical marker to designate the alleyway as “Ice Alley,” marking the original path to the Boone Ice House.
Planning matters at the meeting focused on the Renew NC Workforce Housing for Ownership Program, offered through the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization. This program makes $53.38 million in federal funds available across various areas. The Town Council focused on two specific components: the Multi-Family Construction and Repair Program, intended for the rebuilding, development, or construction of new multifamily rental products, and the Workforce Housing for Ownership Program, which will fund the development of workforce housing units for ownership. Both programs are designed to incentivize families and workers in high-need areas, particularly those heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene, to remain in the High Country to support the local economy. The Town Council hopes to use these programs to boost housing availability in Boone, though it is anticipated that the statewide demand for these funds will exceed availability.
The Town currently has three openings for various town government boards. There is one student position available for the Cultural Resources Advisory Board, one regular and one student position for the Historic Preservation Commission, and one regular position for the Planning Commission. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by contacting Town Clerk Nicole Harmon. History graduate student Pierce Hall was nominated for appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission upon his graduation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Town Council approved a motion to enter closed session. This confidential portion of discussion is permitted under North Carolina law for specific reasons, including reviewing and approving minutes from prior closed sessions, consulting with the town attorney to obtain legal advice, and discussing a current or prospective employee’s or public officer’s qualifications or conditions of employment.
