Loray Mill redevelopment underway

Loray Mill redevelopment underway
Planning and pre-construction activities are underway
at the Loray Mill project.
The historic Loray Mill will be a busy place in the coming
months as it becomes a beehive of construction activity to
meet an aggressive 14-month construction timetable. Major
pre-construction activities such as cleaning, paint removal,
and structural stabilization have already begun.
Phase I of the project, which is 75% of the massive building, will produce 190 market
rate “class A” loft apartments, 78,000 square feet of commercial space, and 40,000 square
feet of residential amenities including a large gym and pool, event space, secured access to
residential floors, secured parking for residents, self-storage facilities, and spacious common
areas. Phase II, which will focus on the western “L” of the building that runs perpendicular to
Second Avenue, will be structurally
stabilized as part of the first phase,
and later built out with similar uses
as Phase I.
Preservation North Carolina
(PNC), North Carolina’s only
statewide nonprofit organization
devoted to saving historic buildings
and sites, took ownership of the
Loray Mill in 1998 by donation from
Bridgestone-Firestone. For more
than 14 years, PNC worked with
the City and private developers to
facilitate the redevelopment.
Look for the loft apartments to become available in spring 2014. For more information
about the Loray Mill project, contact Billy Hughes at bhughes@loraymill.net or 949.276.7790.
Manager Heather O’Bot says Zoe’s Coffee Shop, the
latest addition to the steadily growing list of downtown
businesses, will be offering up what more patrons
are coming downtown for: entertainment with their
beverage of choice.
Zoe’s now joins several other downtown
establishments – Freeman’s Pub, Sharkey’s,
Nick’s, and Grown Folks, a new nightclub –
that offer live entertainment on the weekends
and often during the week. Zoe’s offers live
performances for a range of musical tastes
as well as providing a venue for performing
artists, showcasing poetry readings and other
spoken word entertainment.
The shop also works in junction with its next
door neighbor, The Art Station, to showcase
the work of local visual artists.
For the palate, Zoe’s will feature a full-service
coffee bar, a selection of craft beers and wines,
desserts, pastries, and appetizers, all either made
locally or provided by local suppliers. The shop’s interior
was also designed using locally sourced recycled, reused,
or sustainable materials, some from the Loray Mill,
Webb Theater and the Standard Building.
You can find more information on each business’
hours, entertainment line-up, and schedule on their
respective websites.
Other Downtown news: Another new
business is making its home downtown.
Monarch Nutrition, is a health, wellness,
and nutrition store that offers its own special
blend of smoothies and shakes. It is at 182
W. Main Avenue next door to The Bottle
Shoppe. Miller & Kasper, a hot dog shop,
is open at 101 W. Main, with a variety of
hot dog, brat, and sausage choices. Apple
Press Antiques is open at 108 E. Main Ave.
Image Gallery has moved to 425 W.
Franklin Blvd. and taken up residence with the
new offices of Tina Smith Realty in the former
Sign Mill building.
Zoe’s Coffee Shop, two doors down from Nick’s downtown, is now open.
Swimming Pools Preview
Parks & Recreation
The Recreation Department will open the swimming pools
for two pre-season weekends, May 25-27 (Memorial
Day weekend & holiday) and June 1-2. Lineberger Pool
admission is $3 per two-and-one-half-hour swim session,
either 12:30-3:00 p.m. or 3:30-6:00 p.m. Erwin Pool
admission is $2 for a 12:30-6:00 p.m. session. Both pools
open daily beginning June 8. Reservations for swim lessons
and daycare hours can be made by calling
(704)869-1018.
Free Tuesday, sponsored by Duke Energy, will be May 14,
4-8 p.m. Free Friday will be May 24, 1-5 p.m.
Mammal Safari Exhibit
Go on a virtual mammal safari adventure across the globe
at the Schiele’s latest
original exhibit production,
sponsored by PNC Bank.
Call 704.866.6908 or visit
www.schielemuseum.org
for more information.
Free Train Rides
To celebrate National Kids to Parks Day, and to
encourage kids to develop more active, healthy lifestyles
by visiting a City park, the Recreation Department is
offering free train rides at Lineberger Park from 10 a.m.12 noon on Saturday, May 18.
Public Events at the
Gastonia Conference Center:
Park Watch
The Recreation Department is still
recruiting citizens to join Park Watch.
The program provides guidelines
for reporting suspicious activities
or problems in the parks. For more
information visit www.cityofgastonia.
com and click on the Park Watch owl logo.
Rankin Lake Park
It is arguably one of the most beautiful parks in the state,
right here in our back yards! One of its most enjoyable
activities is fishing. For nominal fees you can fish from two
different piers or a rented boat. Novice anglers can
borrow a rod and reel from the Lake Office. Canoes and
kayaks are available to rent for the recreational paddler.
For more information call (704)866-6849.
Basketball Clinic
May 20 – The Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame Awards
& Banquet, 5:30-10:00 p.m. For ticket information, visit:
gastongazette.com or call 704-869-1700.
A basketball clinic focusing on fundamentals & skills, taught
by former professional players and area coaches, will be June 1 – Gaston Association of Realtors Housing Expo,
held at the Phillips Community Center, June 17-20, 9 a.m.-1 a free information fair for potential home buyers,
p.m. All are welcome, ages 8-12. Cost is $30 for Gastonia 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
residents. For more information, call 704-866-6851.
Schiele Museum
Free Admission Days
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Gastonia @CityofGastonia1
Don’t forget free admission days at the Schiele this month.
Grizzlies back on the field
The 2011 league champion Gastonia Grizzlies will host the team’s home
opener on Tuesday, May 28, against the Columbia Blowfish. Gates open at
6:30 p.m. and the game starts at 7:30 p.m.
Team management is expecting another record-breaking season. Last
year the Grizzlies, a member of the Coastal Plain League (CPL), one of the
nation’s most popular summer collegiate baseball leagues, won the League’s
“Organization of the Year” award. The team led the league in categories
such as attendance, coaching, fan interaction, concessions, stadium facility,
promotions, and atmosphere. In 2011 the team won its first CPL championship.
The Grizzlies regular season will run through Monday, August 5. The CPL
features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Plan to attend and bring the whole family
11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Downtown Gastonia
Rides, games, contests, live music,
DJs, karaoke, car show, street vendors,
FIREWORKS!
For more info visit: gastoniajuly4th.com