Good morning. Cumberland County commissioners are asking the public what should be put on the former parking lot where the canceled Crown Event Center was going to be built. The site in downtown Fayetteville has been a vacant field of mud since construction stopped in March.
Some of the questions the board is considering: Should the property be returned to a parking lot? If the site is developed, what types of development should go there? Should any development include parks and green space?
Meanwhile, commissioners are preparing to finish paying a $10 million bill for the preliminary construction of the scrapped project. More in today’s lead story.
Welcome to CityView Today. In today’s newsletter: Writer Jason Canady caught the official opening night of Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s 9 to 5: The Musical on Saturday. “It was every bit as hilarious as it was entertaining,” Canady writes in his review of the production, which features music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. Plus, legal hemp has become a multimillion dollar business in North Carolina. From our partners at The Assembly, the state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in three different cases centered around the question of whether odor can still be considered probable cause to search someone’s car. And in case you missed it: Fayetteville City Council voted 8-2 last night to renew a contract with gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter for another year.
Thanks for reading,
Maydha Devarajan
Editor-in-Chief
County seeks public’s ideas for Event Center site as commissioners consider $10M construction bill
Residents can take an online survey on what to do with the former parking lot in front of the County Courthouse.
More from CityView
Review: Cape Fear Regional Theatre brings a hilarious rendition of ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ to the stage
“No need to fly to New York — Cape Fear Regional Theatre delivers Broadway-quality performances right here at home.” CityView Media is a seasonal sponsor of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.
Odor in the court
Police still use odor to justify searches, even though legal hemp and illegal marijuana smell the same. The state Supreme Court now weighs in.
Fayetteville City Council votes 8-2 to renew ShotSpotter for another year
Approval of $220,000 contract follows independent evaluation that found less than a quarter of ShotSpotter alerts linked to confirmed gunfire.
Events
FALL INTO FITNESS: LIBRARY LINE DANCE
- Where: North Regional Branch Library, 855 McArthur Road, Fayetteville
- When: 9-9:45 a.m. today
- What: Join us for a morning of fun and fitness! This class is for anyone who loves to dance, whether experienced or new to the dance floor.
TAI CHI IN THE GARDEN
- Where: Cape Fear Botanical Garden, 536 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville
- When: 10-11:30 a.m. today
- What: A Chinese martial art and system of calisthenics with very slow controlled movements taught by Rich Martin.
MAKE A STAINED GLASS MONSTERA LEAF
- Where: ARTworks Vass, 129 Main St., Vass
- When: 5:30 p.m. today
- What: Unleash your creativity in this hands-on stained glass class, where you’ll craft a beautiful Monstera Leaf sun catcher using traditional techniques!
Obituaries
Dyon Ricardo Thorne
Dyon Ricardo Thorne passed away on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Kimberly Joy Pike
Kimberly Joy Pike, 66, of Spring Lake, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Clyde Randall Boone
Clyde Randall Boone, 83, formerly of Fayetteville, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 28.
Until tomorrow!
💰 Are you a local business owner? The City of Fayetteville’s Economic and Community Development Department wants to hear from small business owners about needed resources that would help expand their operations. “Small businesses are the backbone of Fayetteville’s economy … their success helps drive investment and build wealth in the city,” a city press release states. The survey is open through Oct. 3.
~ Maydha
