Lexington to develop depot district

LEXINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — The City of Lexington is continuing its efforts to revitalize its Historic Depot District. A new mixed-use development is expected to come to the area now that city leaders unanimously chose a developer’s proposal for the site.

The new development is expected to be built at 313 Railroad St.

It’s one of many different parcels of industrial buildings the city has owned in the depot district since 2007. The goal is to redevelop the area.

“Our objective was to get people to Lexington,” developer Michael Tesh said.

The developer wants to transform the site into a space that would include a food hall, distillery, micro-park, apartments, townhouses and retail space.

Tresh said the focus of the proposal is all about economic development.

“We wanted to make sure that we checked some of the boxes … The city has done such a good job of providing a vision for us,” Tesh said.

The site used to be Lexington Home Brands’ showroom and office. City leaders made the decision last year to demolish a portion of the building that was in disrepair.

Next to the site, the city wants to establish a passenger rail station offering Amtrak service

“The vision was really to create a live work and play space down in the Depot District, which would complement our already flourishing uptown area,” Lexington Mayor Jason Hayes said.

The developer wants it to hold the distillery space.

“Lexington Furniture was such an icon for so many families. So to salvage that piece of history and to be able to turn that into something that can last for generations to come means a lot to the whole team,” Tesh said.

Now that city leaders have unanimously chosen a developer’s proposal for the site, they believe it’s a positive sign of continuous growth for the district.

The Depot District currently has a brewery, cidery, amphitheater and an arcade.

“In 2007, the City of Lexington purchased several different parcels and industrial buildings from Lexington Home brands and had the intent of redeveloping that area … It’s taken longer than we would have liked. However, the momentum really has picked up,” Hayes said.

The selected developer is also the developer of the nearby Holland Brooks Event Venue and Distillery.

“The nice thing about the campus that we’re creating here is you’re going to have multiple bars, multiple restaurants, event venues, and it’s just going to be a draw … The ultimate goal is people will come to Lexington,” Tesh said.

Construction could start before the end of 2025, but there are still some things the city and developer have to work out.

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