2005/2006: Cornelius Police Dept.
Oct. 14. Cornelius has transitioned from native inhabitants, to a strictly agrarian community, to a mill town, to a lake town, to a full-fledged suburb and now something approaching a junior metropolis. Cornelius Today has only been part of the past 20 years, so here’s a look back 20 years upon our 20th anniversary in business. We thank you for all the support for our first two decades. By the way, we’re glad to add to the timeline!
—Dave Yochum, editor and founder Cornelius Today
2004
The year begins with the Palace Theater closing for good. Thom Tillis serves first full year on Cornelius Town Board. Football legend Reggie White dies of cardiac arrhythmia, possibly caused by untreated sleep apnea, at his home in Connor Quay. Movies at the Lake closes.
2005
Town of Cornelius marks 100th anniversary. Dave Gilroy first elected to the Town Board when Gary Knox was mayor. He was re-elected to the board for several terms until 2019, when both he and his wife Diane ran, alas cancelling each other out.
2006
Aquesta Bank becomes Cornelius’ first-ever locally headquartered bank. Bailey Middle opens.
2007
Tarte
Jeff Tarte elected mayor. RiteAid opens; it’s since been torn down to make way for a…bank.
2008
An Arizona developer buys the Cook Farm on Statesville Road, planning more than 1 million square feet of commercial space, hotels and 655,000 square feet of high-quality retail space, 400 luxury condominium residences, 810,000 sf of class A office space, a 250-room full-service hotel and a 100-room boutique hotel. And then the real estate crash happened.
2009
Median home price in Cornelius: $205,619. Newly widened West Catawba Phase One opens with a two-car parade. Wher-rena closes after 43 years on West Catawba. Lender starts default proceedings against the owner of Augustalee. Walgreen’s opens in the newly old SouthTrust branch where a relatively unknown duo called Avett Brothers performed for the opening party.
2010: Hough High School opens
2010
Hough High School opens. Cornelius Animal Shelter opens with a major assist from Commissioner Jim Bensman and Animal Control Officer Kenny Russell. Antiquity, Bailey’s Glen under way. A serial arsonist terrorizes the Glenridge neighborhood 2010-2011. A suspect is captured and charged but released for lack of evidence. Cornelius Today holds the first Newsmakers Breakfast at the late, great Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails.
2011
Robbins Park Phase I opens, Veterans Monument at Rotary Plaza is dedicated, West Catawba Phase I widening completed (?). Thom Tillis becomes Speaker of the NC House. Mayor Jeff Tarte runs unopposed for a third two-year term. Hundreds of spectators watch the “Miracle on the Hudson” jet make its way down I-77 to a new home. Cornelius resident Maryann Bruce was on the flight. Creole House closes after police find a marijuana operation on the second floor.
2012
Westmoreland Athletic Complex is dedicated. K&W Cafeteria closes in Magnolia Plaza. Jeff Tarte elected to NC Senate.
2013
Washam
Woody Washam first elected to the Town Board. Four of five Commissioners of the Town Board live west of I-77. Cornelius Today gets a new logo or masthead, designed by Keith Blankenship. Nick Jonas spotted around town as “Careful What You Wish For” is filmed here.
2014
Thom Tillis elected to US Senate. Publix opens in Magnolia Plaza. Robert Cashion, a link to Cornelius of days gone by, passes away. Bill Thunberg, head of the Lake Norman Transportation commission, says the Red Line is dead because Norfolk Southern won’t do a deal on the O Line. The Diverging Diamond is unveiled at Exit 28. Amanda Dudley launches Exit 28 Ridiculousness on Facebook. John Bradford is elected to Tillis’ NC House of Representatives District 98 seat, giving Cornelius another link to the statehouse. Blockbuster goes the way of fax machines, film and floppy disks.
2015
Quattlebaum
CPD Officer James Quattlebaum is shot in the line of duty, recovers. Mac McAlpine’s ‘Emergency Call to Action’ helps mobilize the business community against widening I-77 with new toll lanes. Anti-toll demonstrations take place on the I-77 bridge. Robbins Park Phase II opens. Michael Waltrip Racing runs out of gas.
2015: Mark Twain bronze by Cornelius resident Jon Hair finds a home in front of the library / Dan Ahlers photo
2016
James Hoyt Wilhelm Park opens. Woody Washam begins first term as mayor. There is a Gaga Ball tournament at Robbins Park. Remember Gaga Ball? Toll supporter Gov. Pat McCrory loses re-election. The iconic Rusty Rudder closes. Ramsey Creek Park, with a years-long assist from Bill Russell and the Lake Norman Chamber, opens a swim beach. Griffin Bros., a 50-year-old business, sells out to an Alabama company.
2017
Caldwell Station Creek Greenway opens. Sushi at the Lake fire. Elevation Church opens in the old Palace theaters building.
2018
Potts
Whoda thunk: Million-dollar condos selling at Watermark. Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools board passes “Municipal concerns Act of 2018,” effectively blocking school construction in Cornelius and Huntersville. This, after both towns voted to reserve the right to create municipal charter schools. Nannie Houston Potts, the first Black and first woman mayor of Cornelius, dies at age 80. Richard Davis Jr., who lived in a mansion on Belle Isle, is sentenced to seven years in prison for bilking investors including local families and professional athletes. 75 victims lost $9 million-plus.
2019
Antiquity Greenway opens. SEC sues Marlin Hershey and Dana Bradley for securities fraud. Rite Aid torn down. FIre at Admiral’s Quarters displaces 18 families. The old Acropolis is torn down to make room for a QuikTrip. Developer presents plans for Alexander Farms on the picturesque 55-acre farm at Westmoreland and W. Catawba. Lake Norman Chrysler Jeep Dodge owners put the former Michael Waltrip Raceworld under contract for expansion.
2020: 150 people rally in front of the Confederate Monument on Zion Ave. / Dan Ahlers photo
2020
Aldi opens. Nannie Potts Lane opens. Plum Creek Greenway Phase I opens. 150 people rally in front of the Confederate Monument on Zion Ave. COVID outbreak at Autumn Care takes more than 18 lives. Lost Worlds opens. Alexander Farms, a $100 million-plus development, is approved. SteinMart closes for good, part of a national bankruptcy.
2021: McDowell Creek Greenway opens / Jason Benavides photo
2021
McDowell Creek Greenway opens. Dave Gilroy is re-elected to the Town Board after a two-year absence.
2022
North Regional Rec Center opens. Madalina Cojocari goes missing. The Alexander Farm tenant house is saved, with considerable help from Dan Morrill, former history professor at UNC-Charlotte and a consultant with Preserve Mecklenburg Inc.
2023: Cain Center for the Arts opens / Jason Benavides photo
2023
Atrium breaks ground on new hospital on Statesville Road. Cain Center for the Arts opens.Washam is elected to an unprecedented fourth term as mayor, beating challenger Denis Bilodeau by only four votes. Cornelius Early Scholars opens.
2024
Jetton Road Extension rebuilt. Plum Creek Greenway Phase II opens. NC offers $25,000 reward in Madalina Cojocari case. As per Zillow, median home price is $571,000. Marlin Hershey is sentenced to 21 months in prison; Dana Bradley, 10 months. Tropical Storm Helene devastates Western NC, prompting town-wide support for victims.
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