This will be the first full summer that the Village’s business community has been open since Helene. Last year, the businesses opened on July 25 when the Village’s water and sewer systems became operational for Main Street.
Since that date 27 businesses have reopened with the latest being Hickory Nut Falls Family Campground. We still have 19 businesses not open since the flood but 9 of those are planning and working towards reopening. It is expected that as the “Raise the Rock” plan is implemented, other new businesses will be attracted to the Village to take advantage of new opportunities.
DOT should start working on the permanent roads in a few weeks. While this seems like it is taking a long time to restart, DOT has been very active behind the scenes working through designs, contracts, easements, and other paperwork. It is becoming more apparent every day how big this rebuilding job is.
Congratulations to Rose Senehi on the publication of her new book “A River Runs Through It”. The Friends of the Library held a very successful luncheon at La Strada to celebrate her new book and Rose discussed the book there with some of the characters. It is fast paced and tells the story of the Flood and the year of recovery following it. Rose has now published 8 books all centered on the Hickory Nut Gorge and we commend her for providing us with a fictionalized (yet historically accurate) recent history of our area.
The Village is working with McGill and Associates Engineers on several projects including streetscape improvements and water and sewer improvements. Both of these projects are still in the engineering stages and construction will begin after the busy season.
The streetscape plans are part of the “Raise the Rock” plan and are funded by $5.5 million in NC Commerce Dept grants to the Village. We also received a $1.7 million carbon reduction grant through the efforts of the NC DOT on the Village’s behalf. We are most grateful to both agencies and the State of NC for their continued support to rebuild our Village.
This is just over $7 million to redo our streetscape from the boundary of Lake Lure to just past the Best View Inn. What a remarkable improvement and upgrade for our Village. The various sewer projects will provide sewer servce to areas of Southside, Terrace, and upriver towards the Esmeralda Inn. This will be a tremendous service to those residents providing better utilities and upgrading property values.
Since many of these projects are still being engineered and planned there has not been a lot of visible impacts or visible progress but that will change. This winter will kick off another round of construction and the potential discomforts that can accompany it. However; it is progress and it will pay off. I look forward to some dust and discomfort as the next phase of our recovery kicks in. Be patient and review the plans at raisetherock.com for inspiration.
Continue to follow us on Facebook – Chimney Rock Village NC – and on our website. You can see updates and progress reports and plan for your visit now and in the future to see us rebuild and check on the progress.
Please keep me posted as to any changes, news, or information you would like me to include in future Village reports. You can email me at bubbaolearys@bellsouth.net or call 828-545-1243. You may also contact any of your Council Members; Peter O’Leary, April Schick, Buck Meliski, Bruce Godzik, and Patrick Warncke with any concerns or questions.
Remember the Chimney Rock Village Council always meets the third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 pm in the Chimney Rock Volunteer Fire Department building (unless a special meeting is called or the Council votes to change a particular date). These meetings are open to the public. Please contact Peter O’Leary 828-545-1243 or Village Clerk, Steve Duncan 828-777-5718 if you have any questions or concerns.
