Director Steele: Kinston downtown has shifted from recovery to growth; urges strategic action

Downtown Kinston Revitalization Director Leon Steele presented a 40-year evaluation, contrasting early revitalization (1984–2017) with progress since 2018. Steele credited sustained marketing, events, and investments—like Queen Street redesign and district lighting—with producing renewed momentum: 44 downtown buildings changed hands in the past decade and 32 new businesses opened in 2022 alone.

Steele said downtown is now confronting a growth challenge: limited leasable retail space and shrinking market-rate apartment availability. He recommended creating a DKR Economic Vitality Committee to identify redevelopment opportunities, recruit gap-filling businesses (conference space, destination restaurant, neighborhood market), and coordinate with partners including the City, Chamber, and Visit Kinston.