Community

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Forty Years of Revitalization: What Downtown Kinston Can Teach Us About Change

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For more than 40 years, Kinston has talked about revitalizing its downtown. The names, programs, organizations and strategies have changed, but the objective has remained remarkably consistent: preserve the historic core, attract investment, create a reason for people to come downtown, and make downtown an economic asset for the entire community.

Shop Local, Spark Joy: Why Downtown Kinston Is the Heart of Holiday Magic

As the Christmas season approaches, glittering ads and mega sales from big-box retailers and online giants flood our screens. But amid the commercial frenzy, there’s a quieter, more meaningful way to celebrate the season: shopping local. And in Kinston, North Carolina, that means heading downtown—where every purchase is a gift to your community.

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DKR is kicking off plans for our two big Christmas traditions

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Our holiday events are all about getting the whole community involved while bringing life to downtown. We’re inviting all downtown businesses to join the fun by decorating and lighting up their windows or buildings starting Saturday, November 22 for our big “Turn on the Holidays” celebration. (Yes, decorating before Thanksgiving is totally fine!)

Building Momentum: New Spaces, New Honors, and a Bright Future for Downtown Kinston

While relocating our office, we discovered 90 Kinston All American City license plates still individually wrapped from maybe 20 years ago. We decided to sell them to help with the All American City Park project.

Downtown Kinston continues to see a ramping up of reinvestment

Downtown Kinston continues to see a ramping up of reinvestment

New businesses continue to seek available, leasable space to start-up new or expand into.

Newcomer investors to downtown Kinston are actively seizing the opportunities to acquire buildings and lease spaces, investing significantly in the rehab and remodeling to meet the demands as well as fuel the new vibe downtown.

Downtown revitalization represents a humanistic approach to economic development that prioritizes people and community well-being

Rather than solely focusing on metrics like GDP growth or corporate profits, downtown revitalization aims to create vibrant, livable urban centers that enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike.

Some downtown statistics for FY 2022-23

Some downtown statistics for FY 2022-23

DKR is required to submit annual reports to the State and National Main Street revitalization organizations of which we have been members since 1984. Our Statistics Report submitted in June focuses only on the downtown Main Street program district which is our 28 square block Municipal Service District (MSD).

Downtown Kinston is a Great Neighborhood in the Greater Neighborhood of Kinston

Downtown Kinston has a growing energy and a vibe that differs from day to night. Much of downtown may be closed on Mondays for now, which is normal for small towns, but unlike many other small towns, Kinston’s sidewalks do not roll up at 5PM the rest of the week and it is live at night.

Big Impacts with Temporary Solutions

It is exciting to see new people investing in downtown Kinston whether they are transplants who fell in love with the vibe or natives returning home to be part of the rebirth. Chuck Hengst and wife Liz recently purchased the Mockingbird Books building which is little more than a façade.