The Town of Pittsboro restored its designation as a NC Main Street Community at the recent annual conference held by the state’s chapter of the national Main Street America. The recognition is graded on how a town is committed to preservation-based economic development, and puts Pittsboro in the same class as just 50 other North Carolina towns.
Pittsboro was not recognized in 2023, as town officials said the community moved up from being considered a Small-Town Main Street program. But with accreditation once again, it reflects how the town is adjusting to its growth while still maintaining its historic roots downtown and integrating new business into the space.
NC Main Street’s standards for the honor include the following:
- Broad community commitment to revitalization
- Inclusive leadership and organizational capacity
- Diversified funding and sustainable program operations
- Strategy-driven programming
- Preservation-based economic development
- Demonstrated impact and results
Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp was on hand at the 2024 NC Main Street conference for when the town’s accreditation was announced. He told 97.9 The Hill it was exciting to be there in Goldsboro with so many other representatives from like-minded communities across the state.
But the Main Street Community designation was not the only honor Pittsboro won from the conference.
“The SoCo project there on the Circle won the Best Outdoor Space Improvement award throughout the state,” Shipp said, describing one of the Awards of Merit given out. “That’s really good recognition – and related to that, and in other projects, Hobbs Architect won a Main Street Champion Award. So, [that is] good recognition for Pittsboro, particularly in investments downtown we’ve had recently.”
The SoCo development opened in 2023 after years of construction, replacing a collection of non-historic buildings with a central spot for dining, live music and outdoor seating at the heart of downtown. The brick building fits stylistically with the historic courthouse across the famed roundabout and offers an inviting space to foot traffic passing by its patio with nine fire pits, outdoor stage, and food truck infrastructure.
Hobbs Architects, which is headquartered in town, is the design team of SoCo – and several other Pittsboro projects. The business’ recognition from NC Main Street is also due to Hobbs’ work on the Historic Chatham County Courthouse restoration and partnering with the Town of Pittsboro to design its new pop-up park in the area. The firm’s leadership also is heavily involved in the Chatham County community, with members volunteering on the Chatham Arts Council, the county’s historic association, the local Boys and Girls Club, and more.
“We’re really excited to have people who want to invest in downtown,” Shipp said of Hobbs Architects, “and continue to make sure our downtown stays great and what we’re known for.”
Hobbs Architects is also responsible for the Chatham County Agricultural and Conference Center near downtown Pittsboro, the Perch co-working space in town, and two of the Chatham County Community Colleges facilities in the area. To further recognize Hobbs Architects’ efforts and award from NC Main Street, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in the business’ honor at Monday’s board meeting.
All 2024 NC Main Street Communities and award winners can be found on the NC Main Street website.
Photo via the Town of Pittsboro.
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