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November 2003
14
Park Avenue Center Brings Back Hope
BY MARK WINEKA
SALISBURY POST
November 14, 2003
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Marie Cuthrell has lived on Park Avenue all of her life,
so she knows about patience -- and change.
The once affluent neighborhood hit hard times, as
neighborhoods do in the normal cycles of city life.
Through the years, the bankers, doctors, merchants and
mill supervisors left for trendier residential developments.
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All new: Renovated Park Avenue buildings have officially reopened,
housing a community center. The new look is a drastic change from
the dilapidated appearance of the past several years. Photo by Jon
C. Lakey, Salisbury Post. |
The mill houses were sold. The textile plant eventually
closed. Many of the proud, historic homes became rental properties.
Crime crept in. Longtime residents felt fearful just walking
to the park or store. They first met as an association in March 1993 with aims
of someday reclaiming their neighborhood.
On Wednesday, as the many stakeholders in the Park Avenue
area gathered to dedicate their new community center, their mission seemed to be
complete.
"One thing we learned," Cuthrell said, "is patience."
A large crowd met briefly Wednesday afternoon on the
expansive back deck that joins the historic buildings making up the new
community center, financed largely by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development loan. After the appropriate words were said, the audience spread out
in different directions to take tours of the buildings.
Members of the "Park Avenue Team" wore white golf shirts and
conducted many of the two- and three-person tours. Cuthrell led the way.
"Words can't express our feelings," Cuthrell said. "For so
many years, we have seen these buildings in such despair."
The nonprofit Park Avenue Redevelopment Corp. has big plans
for the community center. Members envision a learning center to teach computer
skills to all ages. They hope the center can provide tutoring help for students
after school. They want a physical fitness and nutrition center, supervised arts
and crafts sessions, family activities and a reading skills center.
The 1916 Rufty Building (brick) also has a large room for
community gatherings.
"We're just real happy," Cuthrell said of the center's new
look and its potential.
Much of the longer, comer building -- the 1896 company store
of the old Kesler Manufacturing plant (later Cannon Mills) -- devotes its space
to city offices. It already includes a police substation and several rooms for
city code enforcement officers.
Lou Manning, head of the Park Avenue Redevelopment Corp.,
said he already has purchased with his own money treadmills, stationary bikes, a
rowing machine, free weights, benches and a 19-inch television for the
multi-purpose room in the comer building.
Visitors seemed overwhelmed Wednesday by the spaciousness in
both buildings and the areas set aside for a fully-equipped kitchen, computer
center, reception areas, offices, break room, storage, rest rooms and community
functions.
Outside, the comer has been transformed by the total
renovation of the historic buildings, new grass, trees, bushes and parking.
Mayor Susan Kluttz said the most exciting thing for City
Council members has been seeing the residents' passion in revitalizing the Park
Avenue area over the past several years. Both parties -- city officials and the
residents -- said they could not have accomplished anything without each other.
Much of the road map for change in Park Avenue began in 1998
when the city and residents set goals and targeted the area for change. The
renovation of the two former store buildings on the comer across from Cannon
Park proved to be one of the major things left on the original list of goals.
Besides the city and residents, partners in making the
community center a reality included Neighboring Concepts, a Charlotte consulting
firm; Summit Developers, the contractor who essentially transformed two building
shells into the new center; HUD, which provided the loan; and the Salisbury
Housing Authority, which secured a $14,500 grant for all the furnishings.
Over the past decade, Park Avenue stakeholders have met in
various places Tower of Power Church, the Salisbury Civic Center and homeless
shelter.
The changes have been dramatic, when taken as a whole. The
Salisbury Community Development Corp. has built four new houses for first-time
homeowners. The CDC and Park Avenue Redevelopment Corp. have helped to renovate
nine existing houses.
Dick Palmore renovated a troublesome 14-unit apartment
building at Park Avenue and Long Street.
The city of Salisbury established a police district office on
Park Avenue (now moved to the community center), completely renovated Cannon
Park and transformed a kudzu-covered dumping ground along Tar Branch into a
nicely landscaped and terraced area.
Cuthrell said the biggest change has come in attitude. People
are out again, walking, playing and living like neighbors.
"It was a long, hard struggle," she said.
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263, or
mwineka@salisburypost.com.
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