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Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton and McAdenville
Volume 79 • Issue 51 • Wednesday, December 17, 2014
MH council approves River Park rezoning By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
After months of talks and tweaks between Mount Holly city staff and representatives from Walton Development, the city council approved a request last week by Walton that will see 143 acres in the original River Park subdivision rezoned to a Conditional Use District. This would allow for Residential uses as detached and attached Multi-Family duplex or townhome structures and associated uses. The approval carried the stipulation that properties along Nantz Avenue not be developed for residential construction. Last month, Walton representatives Andy Rathke and Tedd Duncan had appeared before the city council with the rezoning request but the council declined to act on it. Since then, more talks between Walton and city staff ironed out several sticking points in the development’s design. For instance, garages on new construction residences must have an architectural feature such as a front window. Vinyl siding will not be allowed, both sides of streets will have sidewalks, and street lights. Before they voted, council members and Mayor Hough peppered Rathke and Duncan with questions and comments about prices of the new homes that would be built, architectural features, and the possibility of Walton coming back for more rezoning at a later date. Councilman Jim Hope, who made the motion to vote on the rezoning and who voted yea for it, noneSee RIVER PARK page 2
Photo by Alan Hodge
Workers stand by as the new bridge from downtown Cramerton to Goat Island Park is gently lowered into place. The bride is part of Phase II of the park's development.
Cramerton bridge placement brings an audience By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
A spectacular and historic day came to Cramerton last Tuesday. The event was placement of the 165 foot long by 12 foot wide, 90,000 pound pedestrian bridge from downtown across the South Fork River to Goat Island Park. Blythe Construction and Superior Cranes performed the work with one of the largest cranes in the southeastern U.S. The monstrous machine towered over the town with a boom reach exceeding 160 feet. It is capable of lifting 800 tons and had 350,000 pounds of counterweights on board. The excitement started around 8am when workers began attaching lifting straps to the bridge as it sat on the ground behind the fire department. In the days leading up to the lift, crews had assembled the bridge there from three sections brought in on trucks. After the straps were put on, the crane poised a large bundle of cables over the bridge. These were in turn attached to the straps with massive hooks. On a signal, the crane operator revved the engine and began lifting. In a few minutes the straps grew taut and the entire structure slowly began to rise. As the bridge took to the air, workers holding guide ropes on each end swung it around. Once it was poised over the abutments on each shore, the operator gently lowered the huge steel and wooden span onto bolts. The
entire operation went without a hitch and spectacular as it was to watch, the crew made it look easy. A crowd had gathered to see, photograph, and video the event. Several parents let their children take a break from school to witness the spectacle. Cramerton Town Manager Michael Peoples had his son, eight-year-old Bryson who attends New Hope Elementary, by his side as the bridge swung in space. Bryson articulated what everyone present felt. “It's pretty cool,” he said. Cramerton mayor Ronnie Worley was there as well. “This is history,” Worley said. “Thirty or forty years from now these kids will remember when the bridge was placed.” Other work slated in the coming weeks for the bridge will include installing lights and completing the ramps onto it. The bridge will hold a total of 5 tons of weight. It and a greenway segment will serve as a major north to south section of the Carolina Thread Trail in Gaston County. It is part of Phase II of the Goat Island Park project that should be ready by March 2015. Other new Phase II amenities at Goat Island Park will include permanent cornhole boards and ping pong tables, a dog park, an observation platform, fitness station, and more playground equipment. See more BRIDGE photos, page 3
Lentz-Springs house named historic property By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Another piece of local real estate has been added to the roster of places officially recognized as links to our past. Last Monday, the Mount Holly city council held a public hearing and then approved a resolution designating the circa 1870 Lentz-Springs house, currently located at 16 Oak Grove St., as an historic property. The following evening, the Lentz-Springs house as well as the 1916 P&N railroa d depot in Belmont were given a similar seal of approval by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners. David and Wendy Hostetler of Belmont are deeply involved in local historic preservation and
the currently owners of the Lentz-Springs property, also known as the Holly House. "Wendy and I purchased the Lentz Springs house about a year ago due in large part to our personal history with the house,” David said. “We worked with a group of preservationists to save it from destruction 20 years ago, when it was moved from the path of the current Springs shopping center. We believe that historic preservation is important to the community as a whole and we are just trying to do our part. It's a great old house and we hope it will be around for generations to come." The historic property
designation comes with several stipulations. The building cannot be demolished, materially altered, remodeled, or removed until 365 days written notice of the owner's proposed action has been sent to the Gaston County Historic Preservation Commission. However, normal maintenance and repair of exterior architectural features is allowed so long as they are not changed. Owners of an historic property get certain tax breaks as well. The Lentz-Springs house has a long and interesting past. John Russell, chair of the Gaston County Historic
Photo by Alan Hodge
Last week the Mount Holly City Council and Gaston County Board of Commissioners both approved resolutions naming the circa 1870 Lentz-Springs House as an historic property. The structure, also known as Holly House is at 16 Oak Grove St. near downtown Mount Holly. Preservation Commission spoke to the Mount Holly council just prior to their vote.
“The house is significant in terms of the families associated with it,” he said. “It could have been built
as early as 1870. That's not documented but we have oral history history that says it.” See LENTZ-SPRINGS page 2
I-85 widening being considered Belmont Squeeze would be widened under new roads plan By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The section of I-85 from the Belmont Abbey Exit to US321 known as the “Belmont Squeeze” could be widened from six to eight lanes under a plan an-
nounced recently by Gov. Pat McCrory. The 9.8 mile section of road in question narrows by two lanes as it passes through eastern Gaston County and causes major traffic backups during rush hour.
Cost of the project could be over $250 million. The project will also involve replacing the bridge over the South Fork River near McAdenville at a cost of $11 million. The work would not begin until 2024. Improvements to the
I-85/US321 intersection in Gastonia could start in 2017 at a cost of $22.1 million. McCrory's transportation plan laid out hundreds of road, aviation, public transportation, and walkway See I-85 page 2