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Preservation chief moves on
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Published: September 14, 2009
Updated: 09/14/2009 12:20 am
KERNERSVILLE - As a teenager, Kimberly King was a highly ranked gymnast training to make the 1980 Olympics.
An injury sidelined her dream, but the work ethic and commitment that she developed there served her well in her job as the first full-time executive director of the Kernersville Downtown Preservation & Development Council.
King has announced plans to leave her job at the end of October after 11½ years. Although two women held the position before her, King was the first full-time director, a critical position as the council applied for a national Main Street Program grant in 1998.
Although historic preservation may not seem to fit with development and business growth, council leaders envisioned melding both to create a stronger downtown Kernersville.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation operates the Main Street Program as part of its Community Revitalization Department. The program "empowers individuals to use historic preservation-based development strategies to revitalize neighborhoods and commercial districts while protecting their unique sense of place," according to its Web site.
The program began in 1980 and, to date, more than 2,000 communities in 43 states have used it.
When King came on board, the council knew that it wanted to revitalize and invigorate Kernersville's downtown district -- an area that encircles the center of Kernersville at the Main Street and Mountain Street intersection.
"Our first priority since our very first meeting was the relocation of the utility lines and to repave Main Street. This was accomplished in the summer of 2008. Tim Shields (the town's public works director) took it to the next level," King said.
Those four months were difficult for downtown businesses, said Reanza Murray, the owner of Designer's Attic, an interior-design business on Main Street.
"Kim was the constant cheerleader during that time. That's what she is -- for downtown all the time,'' Murray said. "She is an excellent liaison between town officials and businesses, and she takes the hits when things don't go right."
King noted that decorative crosswalks to be installed at Main and Mountain streets will complete the project. In addition, moving and restoring the old depot has led to the initial stages of creating a museum dedicated to Kernersville. Soon, a grant from Wal-Mart will pay for tours of the building for local schoolchildren.
King has organized the downtown spotlight program to recognize businesses and property owners for their façade improvements. Attractive new benches line the downtown corridor. Open houses, festivals, street parties and more have brought the community downtown to explore.
Another major accomplishment for the council has been the transformation of the Hooker Building, now known as the Factory. What was first a textile mill and then a furniture finishing plant has become a hip retail and office center.
"It's become a bustling center of activity and additional tax revenue," King said.
The Factory also will be the site of King's next venture. After 10 years of promoting others' businesses, King has decided to open her own store. Based on the concept of a small, English gardening shop, Ladybug's Garden & Gifts Shoppe will open in the Factory in November.
Bob Reed, who has been the president of the council's board for the past three years, said that King's strengths have been her willingness to do whatever is asked, her care for her job and her great rapport with town officials.
King's last official duty will be one of her favorites.
The widely attended Downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat brings thousands of children and families to downtown Kernersville.
The annual Rotary Club Haunted House is another favorite of King's.
"It's time for the next adventure in my life. It's a good time for fresh eyes to come and take us to the next level,'' she said. "I couldn't have done this without (volunteer) Bonnie Daniel or (longtime resident) Shirley Snow or especially my husband, Arnold King. It's been wonderful. It's a cliché, but it's true. Kernersville is the heart of the Triad."
Reed said that the board will take a methodical approach to hiring a new executive director.
"We plan to reassess and plan for the new director," Reed said. "It's exciting that Kim's getting to do something that she has dreamed of doing, but I hope she will remain with us as a volunteer."
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