NCLM Southern City Volume 71, Issue 2, 2021

SOUTHERN CITY QUARTER 2 2021 42 Talk of Our Towns The City of Hickory also invested in recreation through the Hickory Trail, a ten mile system of multi-modal pathways that provides connectivity through- out town and offers opportunities for development. Taking advantage of that opportunity is One North Center, a $19,000,000, six-story, mixed-use apartment construction project. This new addition to Downtown Hickory sits on the City Walk, a segment of the Hickory Trail that connects Lenoir-Rhyne Uni- versity to Downtown Union Square and is slated to open in early 2021. Despite the trials of 2020, these projects have either progressed or completed, ensur- ing that the community emerges from the pandemic to find a bright, bustling hometown. Few places honor their history quite as well as the towns of North Carolina. Look no further than the Town of Cooleemee , one of the state’s famous former mill towns. This past year, Cooleemee relo- cated its Town Hall to the Zachary House, a historic, town-owned building that was once a former residence of a Cooleemee Cotton Mill company manager. Through this effort, they are better serving citi- zens while also showcasing a prominent historical building. Through the many challenges presented in 2020, the City of Kings Mountain emerged as a top tier city, not just in North Carolina, but nationwide. In fact, according to one outlet, there is no healthier housing market in the entire United States. Add to that the exciting promise brought about by its recent Main Street accreditation, and there is much to be excited about in Kings Mountain. The Town of Rolesville touts an ener- getic community. It needed its Town Hall to reflect that. Small, closed-off, and in need of an update, Rolesville got to work on the space at the start of COVID-19 pandemic. With extra health and safety practices imposed, the Town Hall employees and contractors worked together to complete the project in a timely fashion. In addition, the project was modified to accommodate new best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing employee and customer safety. The lobby is now open, secure, transparent and inviting to the public. continued from page 41 Few places honor their history quite as well as the towns of North Carolina . This past year, Cooleemee relocated its Town Hall to the Zachary House, a historic, town-owned building. Through this effort, they are better serving citizens while also showcasing a prominent historical building.