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Fayetteville City Council considers bringing a social district to downtown

By Staff Report, posted Sep 9, 2022 on BizFayetteville.com

Photo courtesy of CSDD

Cool Spring Downtown District is continuing in their efforts to bring a social district to downtown Fayetteville. 

At the Sept. 6 City Council meeting, the CSDD board requested that the Fayetteville City Council consider establishing a social district downtown. The implementation of a social district would designate an outdoor space in which a person may consume alcoholic beverages sold by a business with a valid permit from the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control System during set hours of operation.

 

CSDD detailed in their presentation to the Council the primary goals of the social district which are:

  1. Generate foot traffic.
  2. Increase post-COVID economic recovery efforts for small businesses.

According to House Bill 890 passed in 2021, cities and counties are allowed “opt in” to social districts via an ordinance. According to CSDD’s provided data, several cities in North Carolina are already reaping the benefits of a social district such as Greensboro, Hickory, Kannapolis, Monroe and Raleigh. 

CSDD sent out an online survey earlier this year to measure public interest which received 920 responses, 72 percent of those were in favor of the proposed social district, but according to City records, respondents were evenly split on the frequency of days and hours allowed. 

CEO of the CSDD Bianca Shoneman shared what to expect regarding the development of the idea: “The next step will be to work alongside of the office of economic and community development to solidify the boundaries of the social district and confirm the hours of operation, the days of operation present those concepts to the council, host a public hearing, and then go to a council action meeting.”

According to City records, the council provided consensus to move forward with the implementation plan and asked the Board to return with required actions. 

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