The Flowers Bakery Redevelopment Project

 

A council goal assigned to the Land Management and Development Department was to develop a small-area plan for Flowers Bakery property located in the downtown area.  The Salisbury City Council purchased the former bakery and thrift store site in 1997 because of its strategic location within the Central Business District and proximity to the forthcoming Chamber of Commerce building.  The project represents a major planning and redevelopment effort to promote the adaptive re-use of 43,000 square feet of formerly industrial property.

A citizen’s Task Force was commissioned by the Council to evaluate the property and plan for its redevelopment.  The Flowers Bakery Redevelopment Task Force, led by Chairman Paul Fisher, established a series of objectives for the property.  These objectives included:

  • Increasing the number of retail stores and businesses in the downtown area.
  • Increasing the social and cultural activity in the Central Business District.
  • Improve downtown parking.
  • Encourage office growth and relocation in the downtown.
  • Create a pedestrian network to encourage more business & entertainment.
  • Increase revenue generation.
  • Preserve and protect the historic fabric of the downtown.
  • Develop certainty and predictability that supports private investment in the central business district.

A comprehensive, multi-faceted approach has been taken to evaluate how improvement of the Flowers property integrates with future development downtown.  A team of architects and planners, led by Professor David Walters of UNCC and Robin Davis of The Neighborhood Company worked with the Task Force to receive citizen input and to graphically depict the plan.
Well over 100 citizens attended meetings and provided insights and ideas as to how the property might best serve the community. Design concepts included:

 

 

  • Relocation of the Waterworks Visual Arts Center in main bakery building.
  • Mixed use redevelopment of the small structures with residential and office and retail combinations.
  • Opportunities for the development of new, infill buildings.
  • A plan for parking with a location designated for a future parking deck.
  • Improvements to the streetscape and other amenities.

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Flower's Bakery Concept Drawing

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Concept drawing for parking lot on East Innes Street.   Flower's Bakery building in background.

 The Flowers Bakery Plan is a blueprint for the future of our downtown.  The work of the Flowers Bakery Task Force and the City Administration will be to wisely use the planning concepts to strengthen the core of our community – our Historic Downtown.

For more information on this project, contact Joe Morris, Urban Resource Planner. (704) 638-5324, or, jmorr@ci.salisbury.nc.us

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