Answer: The City of Concord has a downtown Municipal Service District (MSD) that serves as a technical definition for Downtown Concord.  Property owners within the MSD pay additional property taxes to the City to support MSD services. See the boundaries here.

Answer: Please use the contact form on this website or call our office at 704-920-6130 for guidance on starting a business in Concord Downtown. You may also review the Business Resources tab on this website for additional assistance.

Answer: Learn how you can promote your business by becoming an event sponsor. Learn more about sponsorship.

Answer: You may propose an event through this website or contact us through the contact form or 704-920-6130 to discuss hosting an event in Downtown

Answer: The annual Christmas Parade has been held in Concord for over 90 years! Previously hosted by a volunteer organization, in 2022, the City of Concord Parks & Recreation Department took over the management of the parade. 

Answer: Approximately 151 of the 300 total units will be considered workforce units meaning the units will be restricted to households earning 80% or less than the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia Metropolitan Statistical Area’s median income. These workforce units will float throughout the project meaning there won’t be a physical difference between a market rate unit and a workforce unit. The 2021 80% income limit for a single person household is $47,150. The high quality of the workforce units will likely attract residents between the 70-80% area median income (AMI). The workforce unit allocation is driven by one of the development’s private investors and will apply to the project for 10 years.

Answer: A New Union Streetscape was identified as a catalyst project in the 2016 Downtown Master Plan. The existing streetscape on Union Street has not been significantly upgraded since the late 1980s. Many of the street trees downtown have reached the end of the lifespan and have caused tripping hazards in the sidewalks. Sidewalks have also settled causing water infiltration issues in downtown. Finally, existing underground utilities are aging and need replacement to ensure a vibrant downtown for decades to come.

Answer: After starting and stopping a few times due to unforeseen utility conflicts on Market St. and Barbrick Ave., the Union Streetscape project resumed in January 2023. The City expects the project to be complete by Fall 2024. 

Answer: The City will clearly mark and maintain access to sidewalks for visitors during construction. The City encourages businesses with rear entrances to use them for public access where available. Limited closures may occur at the front door of businesses fronting Union Street, but the Contractor will work with businesses and try to schedule this work during off hours. 

Answer: The City will not implement any resident or business tax increases to help pay for the Union Streetscape Project. The City of Concord has been planning for this project for several years and has budgeted accordingly.

Answer: Yes. Spring St., Market St., Barbrick Ave., Cabarrus Ave., Church St., Means Ave., and McCachern Blvd. will all still have on-street parking options. The City will maintain eleven parking spaces north of Cabarrus Ave. on Union St. from Killarney to Cabarrus Ave.. For more information on current available parking please see the Parking Map.

Answer: Yes. North Carolina ABC law allows restaurants and bars/private clubs to extend their premises into outdoor dining areas with some requirements. Businesses must enter into an encroachment lease agreement with the City for use of the outdoor dining area where they intend to serve alcohol. In addition, businesses must clearly mark the outdoor dining area where they intend to serve alcohol. Examples of boundary markers include foldable signs, ground level medallions, planters, etc.