New Rocky Mount development aims to transform downtown

A new development project aims to bring some life back to a portion of downtown.

NSV Development plans to transform 204-232 Southwest Main Street and 201 South Washington St. into living spaces and retail.

Benton Moss is NSV’s project manager for the Rocky Mount projects. He said the spaces have more to offer than you might think.

"It’s got the infrastructure. It’s got the bones," Moss said. "It needs a face lift, and everybody can see that, but it’s got the right structure in place."

Between the two properties, there will be 36 apartment units and 25,000 square feet of commercial retail space underneath that is meant to cater to restaurants, bars and more.

"What NSV Development is hoping, along with the city, is that we can we can lock arms, and we can see this truly come alive, and become a vibrant livable, walkable downtown urban area," Moss said.

Pre-development plans show a $16 million or $17 million price tag and a 12- to 14-month process before people could call this place home.

"There is a huge opportunity we are missing for people to come work, stay, play and do all the things in downtown Rocky Mount,” Moss said.

The city sees the development as an opportunity to bring more people downtown and is working with NSV on incentives to help fund the project.

"The collaboration with NSV is a transformative investment to downtown. This project will bring 36 new families to the area, complementing the nearly 150 units,” Downtown Development Manager Tanika Bryant said. “This project will increase foot traffic for existing businesses and provide more investment opportunities and resources for the downtown district."

For long-time property and business owners, the more people brought downtown, the better.

"I think people downtown is going to bring more businesses," business owner Charles Roberson said. "We need the heads in the bed and the feet on the street so that people can shop and patronize the businesses down here.”

"We have a great culture and history down here that we need to preserve and keep flowing," he said.

NSV Development hopes to break ground on the project this summer with a completion date in 2025.