Anderson House Continues to Haunt City Council Proceedings
Neil Furr/CITIZEN
Mayors from Iredell’s three largest municipalities gathered at the
home of Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh recently to sign an annexation
boundary agreement. The agreement would let potential land
developers know which municipality to deal with regarding possible
annexation and extension of utilities and services. From left are Bill
Thunberg of Mooresville, Elbert Richardson of Troutman, and Costi
Kutteh of Statesville. Other officials, including Andy Barker of Love
Valley, also attended.
Neil Furr
IREDELL CITIZEN
It had been months since anybody
availed themselves of the monthly
“public commentary” opportunity
offered by Statesville City Council.
But Dr. William A. Tucker, owner
of an old and historic house that
has often been before council,
exercised and his right at the April
16 meeting. „ >
Tucker, owner of the Anderson
House and the payer of multiple
fines levied by Council against the
property, used his allotted minutes -
and a bit more - to “fill in” Council
on events of the last two-and-a
half years. But mostly, he said, he
wanted to speak on behalf of the
late Grace Caldwell Anderson,
former owner of the house and the
woman known as “The Bird Lady
of Statesville.”
In 1950, Dr. Tucker said, Council
erected a monument to Anderson
who started the Statesville Garden
Club, and helped get Statesville
designated as the second bird
sanctuary in the state. Anderson,
he said, had a hand in the cardinal
being declared the state bird.
In spite of his paying the fines
against the property, Tucker said,
the City bushhogged the property,
nearly destroying Anderson’s
“beautiful” garden. The bushhog,
he continued, actually ran over the
monument to Anderson and caused
“all kinds of destruction.” Tucker
continued on to say that he got “no
letter” about the City’s intent.
“My question,” he concluded, somewhat
after his allotted minutes had
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elapsed, “is, ‘Has the attitude of
City Council changed since 1950
in honoring Grace Anderson’s
memory?”’
Since the period was for public
commentary only, there was no
response from Council.
The Council moved next to its
Consent Agenda, which included
two items that will affect uptown
traffic and parking in May, but
could also bring the town national
attention.
r Both items involve the filming of George
Clooney movie Leatherheads.
The first proposal is to close the two
block area of Front St. between S.
Meeting St. and Cooper St. from 6
a.m. Tuesday, May 1, until 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 31. During the
closure, traffic signals at Front and
Center St. will be removed for the
circa 1920s movie. NC-DOT will
provide and install the barricades
and signage needed to keep trathc
moving.
Access to the Civic Center will be
at the rear of the facility.
The second proposal is to restrict
parking uptown irom nrst Might
Cyclery to Front St. on both sides
of Center St. With advanced notice,
“no parking” could extend to Court
St., or beyond. Parking restrictions
Continued on next page
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NOTICE OF A COMBINED PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE
PROPOSED I-40/I-77 INTERCHANGE AREA IMPROVEMENTS
TIP Project No. 1-3819 Iredell County
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold a Pre-Hearing Open
House and a Combined Public Hearing on Monday, May 21, 2007 in the Statesville Civic Center
- Room C located at 300 South Center Street, Statesville.
NCDOT representatives will be available at the Pre-Hearing Open House between the hours of
4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to answer questions and receive comments relative to the proposed project.
The opportunity to submit written comments or questions will also be provided. Interested citizens
may attend at any time during the above mentioned hours.
A formal presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. The presentation will consist of an explanation
of the proposed location, design, the state - federal relationship, and right of way and relocation
requirements and procedures. The hearing will be open to those present for statements, questions and
comments. The presentation and comments will be recorded and a transcript will be prepared.
NCDOT proposes to widen 1-40 and 1-77 to eight-lanes and, as a result, improve the I-40/I-77
interchange from the current two-level full cloverleaf interchange to a four-level offset interchange
by replacing three of the four existing loops with directional ramps. The four existing one-lane ramps
will be shifted outward to allow for the new two-lane directional ramps. The improvements on 1-40
will begin just west of SR 2003 (Radio Road), continuing east to SR 2158 (Old Mocksville Road).
Improvements to 1-77 begin just north of SR 2157 (Salisbury Road) and heads north to slightly
south of SR 2171 (Jane Sowers Road). In addition, improvements will be made to the 1-40/US 21
interchange, the I-40/SR 2158 (Old Mocksville Road) interchange as well as the I-77/SR 2321 (East
Broad Street) interchange. The US 64/1-40 partial interchange will be removed as part of this project.
The purpose of the project is to improve mobility and connectivity within the project study area.
Additional right of way and the relocation of homes and businesses will be required for this project.
A map displaying the location and design of the project and a copy of the environmental
document — Environmental Assessment (EA) — are available for public review at the City of
Statesville, City Manager’s Office, 301 South Center Street, Statesville, 28677 and at the NCDOT
District Engineer’s Office located at 124 Prison Camp Road, Statesville, 28625.
Anyone desiring additional information may contact Mr. Jamille Robbins, NCDOT-Human
Environment Unit at 1583 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699, phone (919) 715-1534, or email
jarobbins^dot.statg-nc.us. Additional material may be submitted until June 20, 2007.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for
disabled persons who wish to paiticipate in this hearing. Anyone requiring special services should
contact Mr. Robbins as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.