Potts Street Walking Tour Friday, May 18

BY MELISSA ATHERTON

The Town of Davidson Mobility Plan Walking Tour of Potts Street will meet at the Davidson Community Garden this Friday, May 18th, at 1:00 pm. Join Town of Davidson planning staff, elected officials, representatives from Alta Planning, and concerned residents.

Potts Street is one of the oldest and most historic streets in Davidson. The street is lined with 100 year-old oak trees and crape myrtles. Residents say the rural vernacular is threatened by NCDOT projects U-5873 (roundabout at the YMCA and redirection of Potts Street) and U-5907 (connection of Potts to Sloan). The Town of Davidson/NCDOT/Kimley Horn project may use eminent domain to build a ten-foot path in the front yards of Potts Street homeowners. Some residents are concerned about disturbing asbestos.

Citizens of both Davidson and Cornelius are also concerned about traffic, safety and quality of life issues related to Crescent’s proposal for 246 apartments and nine townhouses. The plan has only one ingress/egress to Potts Street. Other concerns include high-density and large impervious (concrete) surface in the Class IV Critical Watershed (drinking water). The fifteen acres are bound by the railroad, Lake Cornelius, and private property. Crescent withdrew the project from the seven-acre Cornelius side of the Potts Property in September 2017.

Put on your walking shoes, grab a friend, and bring your concerns or suggestions.

Here is the complete list of tours:

1. North Main Street Walking Tour:
Date: Friday, May 18
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Meeting point: Corner of Jackson and North Main St.

2. Potts Street Walking Tour
Date: Friday, May 18
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Meeting point: Davidson Community Garden

3. West Side Walking Tour
Date: Saturday, May 19
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Meeting point: Roosevelt Wilson Park

4. Circles @ 30 Walking Tour
Date: Monday, May 21
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Meeting point: Community School of Davidson on Griffith Street

5. Loop of Davidson Biking Tour
Date: Tuesday, May 22
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Meeting point: Town Green/Library