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INSIDE ▼ United Way names new leader PAGE 2A Friday, March 21, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 11
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Matthews HELP Center gets approval to expand By Justin Vick Contributor
MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews is letting the Matthews HELP Center move forward on plans to develop a 9,000-square-foot addition, a curb-side drop-off area for donations and more parking to its property.
The Matthews HELP Center operates out of 119 North Ames St. The nonprofit needed to get approval from the town for the change in zoning conditions to the 1.3-acre site. “We're here to help our neighbors during a time of crisis in the greater Matthews community,” Executive Director Sandra Rose said during the Feb. 10 public hearing. “Last fiscal year, we served 6,553 children and adults in our community.” Rose said the addition will serve as a re-
tail space that could generate more than $300,000 in revenue for the nonprofit to help an additional 150 families in the community. Volunteers would also have more room to process and store donations. The drive-thru, which Rose described as “Chick-fil-A-esque,” would allow volunteers to safely move donations inside to process. Senior Planner Rob Will told Matthews commissioners March 10 there was general support for the nonprofit’s proposal but staff had three concerns that were ultimately addressed: • Relocating or removing the existing landscape wall from the Ames Street right of way. The nonprofit did just that to accomodate a five-foot sidewalk and five-foot planting strip. • Adding stormwater controls given the increase in impervious surface. The town and county are reviewing plans with the center.
This drawing shows how the property will look once construction is complete. Notice the increased parking to the left. The addition will go behind the existing building.
This elevation shows how the curb-side drop-off area will look.
• Moving a dumpster away from a residential parcel and increasing the buffer to at least 10 feet next to neighboring R-20 residential zoning. Town commissioners approved the change of zoning conditions March 10. “The application is consistent with the
land-use plan because small businesses are a desirable use for the Downtown Adjacent designation, lending to the increased walkability of downtown,” Commissioner Ken McCool said. “The application is reasonable because it allows for an existing business to expand.”
Photo courtesy of Town of Matthews
Matthews makes formal request to issue park bonds By Justin Vick Contributor
MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews is another step closer toward securing funding for the design and construction of Purser-Hulsey Park as well as other parks and recreation upgrades.
Residents approved bonds in November 2022 to finance $14 million in parks and recreation projects and $21 million in transportation priorities. Commissioners authorized the town March 10 to issue about nearly $11 million in park and recreation bonds to design and construct Purser-Hulsey Park as well as build the Riverbanks Greenway Connector, add restrooms at Windsor and Rice parks and add playground equipment to Squirrel Lake Park. “This is an exciting milestone for our community,” Mayor John Higdon said in a statement from the town. “The complete build-out of Purser-Hulsey Park is something our residents have eagerly anticipated for years, and I am very pleased to see it becoming a reality. Combined with upgrades to our existing parks, these projects will provide
Purser-Hulsey Park will include an amphitheater, splash pad, playground and pond.
Photo courtesy of Town of Matthews
wonderful spaces for residents to enjoy for generations.” The sale of bonds will also support the construction of a 10-foot sidepath and planting strips along East John Street, from Greylock
Ridge to the I-485 Outer Ramp. This costs $104,573. T h e v o t e w a s n’t u n a n i m o u s . Commissioners Gina Hoover, Leon Threatt and Mark Tofano voted against the measure.
Tanner wins silver at Special Olympics World Winter Games CHARLOTTE – Ashley Tanner was among Special Olympics North Carolina athletes to return home with medals or ribbons from the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
Tanner won a silver medal in the Level 3 Free Skating event during the competition, which was held from March 8 to 15. Other SONC winn e r s we re Tre n t o n D’Agostino of Watauga County (snowboarding) and Stephen Foster of Buncombe County (Alpine skiing). Nearly 1,500 athletes competed in the games. Tanner has been involved in Special Olympics since her days attending Butler High School in Matthews. She skates at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail.
“I just want to make a comment that I'm still not completely committed in the bond issue,” Threatt said March 10. Their concern was over the tax implications of issuing the bonds. A 1.35 cent property tax increase in 2026 would be needed to repay the debt service on the bonds. This reflects a $4.83 monthly impact to the average home value. Town Manager Becky Hawke told commissioners that projects will start once funding hits the bank, likely by late April or May. Staff has been preparing a Request for Proposal for the design and construction of Purser-Hulsey Park and will likely have a firm in place by the time funding is received. The town said the 93-acre park will include an amphitheater, playground, splash pad, nature trails, clubhouse, picnic shelters and a pond with a pier. The project will take about three years to complete. Commissioners stopped short of issuing bonds for the Matthews Downtown Loop. The $3 million project entails completing three segments of a multi-use path. The town has seven years to issue remaining bonds for projects.
BeachFest becomes Matthews Summerfest MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews is converting BeachFest into Matthews Summerfest,
Ashley Tanner impressed judges at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
The three free skate medalists, including Ashley Tanner (left), share a special moment during the awards ceremony.
Ashley Tanner was one of three athletes from Special Olympics North Carolina to compete in the World Winter Games. Photos courtesy of Special Olympics North Carolina
The 17th annual festival will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. May 9 and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 10 at Stumptown Park. Admission is free. Families can enjoy carnival rides, games, shopping, street food vendors, commercial exhibits and different genres of music on the main stage. The band roster includes The Catalinas (beach), Spiderwebs (No Doubt tribute), The Next Level Band (Motown/top 40), Smokey Jones & The Three Dollar Pistols (classic country), Blackwater (beach/blues/funk), and Captain Mike & the Shipwrecked (Jimmy Buffett tribute). The carnival portion of Summerfest will open at 4 p.m. Friday, allowing guests to enjoy the rides before the main event begins. Wristbands and tickets will be available for purchase. Seaboard, Southern Range, and Edge City breweries will offer craft beer for purchase. Patrons can enjoy their beer within the designated festival area, which includes Stumptown Park and the closed portion of South Trade Street. Trade Street will close between John and McDowell streets starting at 9 a.m. May 9. The closure will expand to Main Street at 3:30 p.m. and remain in effect until the festival ends. Social media contests will be held in April and May on the parks and recreation Facebook page (@MatthewsParksAndRecreation) for a chance to win Summerfest merchandise. Novant Health-Matthews Medical Center is sponsoring the event. On the web: matthewsnc.gov/specialevents