Business View Civil & Municipal l November 2022

132 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 PREFERRED VENDOR/ PARTNER n City of Gastonia www.cityofgastonia.com six-story, mixed-use facility that offers 189 loft units. “These are old mills that have been preserved and refurbished and people are now living in them. It is exciting to see people living in historically significant structures and bringing new life to the surrounding community,” Reid explains. There’s also Center City Crossings, a new project that will bring in six stories and 90 units to the city. “It represents a $25 million private investment into downtown,” Crisp says. “These are market- rate apartments and what we’re so proud of with these products is it’s really giving us an option at the higher end of our market rate and pushing those numbers and making us more competitive with Charlotte.” Despite all the growth, Reid says the city plans to ensure that Gastonia maintains the small-town charm that has characterized the city all his life. It’s what makes the city special and what makes people want to return. “We have that hometown feel here in Gastonia,” he explains. “And I think once you come here, you feel even better and will want to come back.”