By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Downtown Salisbury Inc. will introduce Salisbury City Council to the developer chosen to revitalize the Empire Hotel property on South Main Street.
Council meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 217 S. Main St, and guests will include Downtown Salisbury Inc. President Dick Huffman, past President Brian Miller and Executive Director Randy Hemann.
They will bring the development partner with them.
A task force has been trying to identify a developer for the sprawling downtown property for the past 16 months.
In 2007, through a cooperative lending effort among seven local banks, Downtown Salisbury Inc. bought the Empire Hotel property from the Ragsdale family of Jamestown for $1 million.
The structure has not been used as a hotel for decades and has had only retail activity on its ground-floor storefronts for many years.
According to a proposed “memorandum of understanding,” the city will be asked to help the project through things such as public infrastructure, economic development incentives and plan review.
In another matter, council will hold a public hearing on a proposed Cultural Action Plan for Salisbury. The plan aims at strengthening and unifying arts efforts in the city and is based on recommendations made by a community task force.
Cultural planner and consultant Mary Berryman Agard assisted in devising the plan.
Information on the plan can be obtained through the city’s Web site at www.salisburync.gov. Printed copies also are available at the planning office, located on the second floor of City Hall.
In other agenda items Tuesday, council will:
– Receive an update on financing plans for a fiber-optic cable utility.
– Receive a report from the Public Art Committee about a donation and sculpture installation for the small parking plaza at East Fisher and South Lee streets.
– Receive a request related to a proposed construction project at 108 S. Main St.
– Consider a resolution to the state’s 21st Century Transportation Committee.
– Recognize the Salisbury High School girls tennis team for winning the N.C. 2A Championship and Hannah Lebowitz and Kirstin Meyerhoeffer, who won the state 2A doubles title.
Council meetings are streamed live at www.salisburync.gov/council/webcast.html.