Smithville
Smithville Coalition meets Monday via Zoom
Feb. 25. The Smithville Community Coalition monthly meeting will be held via Zoom Feb. 28 starting at 6:30 pm. To join, click here Meeting ID: 873 7393 9420 Passcode: SCC
American Rescue Fund windfall a ‘pleasant surprise’
Feb. 14. By Dave Vieser. Last week, Cornelius officials revealed that the town will be eligible to receive $9.6 million from the American Rescue Plan. All told, the federal grants will deliver some $1.9 trillion across the country to support responses to and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency. Cornelius plans to use its […]
Windfall: Town Board eyes how to spend $9.6 million in federal stimulus funds
Feb. 9. By Dave Vieser. Cornelius will be eligible to receive $9.6 million from the American Rescue Fund according to town Manager Andrew Grant, who unveiled the good news at the Town Board meeting Feb. 7. All told, the plan will deliver some $1.9 trillion across the country to support responses to and recovery from […]
Smithville plan on deck tonight
Jan. 18. By Dave Vieser. At their meeting tonight, the Cornelius Town Board is expected to establish a review process for the final draft of the Smithville Revitalization Plan. According to Deputy Town Manager Wayne Herron, “the Smithville Community Coalition has been working on the neighborhood redevelopment plan for two years”. In the final draft, […]
Praise in the Park is Saturday at Smithville Park
Sept. 17. One of the longest running free, family-friendly festivals returns to Cornelius this weekend. Praise in the Park is an annual event that features local, regional, and national gospel artists along with food and educational and inspirational vendors. Performances Performers include Bonita Bourney-Simmons, Tiffani Lewis, Gary Mumford, Tawanna Ross, Cassandra O’Neal, Frankie & the […]
Smithville revitalization: Change is inevitable
| By Tonya Rivens June 10. Smithville residents are slowly grappling with the fact that their historic, tightly knit neighborhood is changing. In April, the Smithville Community Coalition (SCC) hosted its first open community meeting at which time a revitalization plan was presented. But two months later, there still appears to be no consensus around […]
Smithville revitalization: How best to fight gentrification and preserve history?
April 9. By Tonya Rivens. At the first open community Zoom meeting of the Smithville Community Coalition, approximately 23 residents along with Mayor Washam and several Town Commissioners heard about their ambitious revitalization plan for the Black community just east of I-77. Observers say there is no consensus yet as to how to revitalize and […]
Town leaders looking for consensus-building in Smithville revitalization plan
March 18. By Dave Vieser. The Smithville neighborhood is facing the same challenges other historically black communities are facing nationwide: Gentrification taking advantage of what is now blight and lower home values. Complicating this is the fact that the town owns more than a dozen lots in the area. “We are in trouble folks,” said […]
New road honors former mayor
June 17. By Dave Vieser. At their Monday June 17 meeting Cornelius commissioners are being asked to award a $1.29 million contract to Blythe Development of Charlotte to build Nannie Potts Lane. Blythe was the only bidder for the project which is designed to relieve traffic on Catawba Avenue east of I-77. The road is […]
Visitation Friday, funeral Saturday for former Mayor Nannie Potts
The funeral for Nannie Potts, a former mayor of Cornelius, will be at 11 am Saturday Nov. 17 at Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church, 21517 Torrence Chapel Road. Visitation will be 6 pm to 8 pm Friday, Nov. 16 at the church. She was the first female mayor of Cornelius as well as the […]
