The Aberdeen Town Board reviewed nearly a decade of progress on downtown improvements Monday. During the meeting, members discussed what steps could help maintain momentum as visitation to the area grows.
Planner Lindy Lamielle presented an update to the Aberdeen Town Board on March 23 evaluating the 2017 Master Streetscape Plan and new foot traffic data measuring how often people visit downtown. The presentation reviewed recommendations from the plan and examined which projects have been completed, which remain in progress, and which have yet to begin.
Lamielle said the update was intended as a high-level review rather than a decision-making item.
“There’s no motions, there’s no decisions being asked,” Lamielle promised the board. “The last several months have identified a need to capture what we’ve done since the 2017 master streetscape plan was adopted.”
Since the plan’s adoption, the town has invested in streetscape upgrades, pedestrian improvements, parking, and landscaping intended to make downtown more accessible and appealing. Those improvements include sidewalk and crosswalk upgrades, decorative lighting, public parking expansion, and improvements to public gathering areas.
Improvements delivered by the plan so far include:
• Public parking improvements
• Sidewalk and pedestrian improvements
• Lighting and streetscape enhancements
• Landscaping and visual upgrades
• Public space and event infrastructure
• Private Investment
One of the larger projects was the Talbooth Street parking lot and street improvements, completed in 2025. The project added parking and upgraded surrounding streets, including Talbooth and Knight streets. Town officials estimated the project added roughly 15 additional spaces, depending on how nearby street parking is counted.
Lamielle said the town has also installed roughly 14 new crosswalks and upgraded associated ADA ramps, helping create safer pedestrian connections throughout downtown.
The review also touched on ongoing projects, including improvements to the Main Street corridor. Plans call for continued landscaping, public art concepts, pedestrian connections, and wayfinding signage to better guide visitors to shops, dining, and parking areas.
Data presented to the board suggests the improvements have helped increase downtown activity. According to a foot traffic analysis, the number of unique visitors increased from about 133,000 in 2024 to more than 154,000 in 2026. Total annual visits also rose from roughly 578,000 to about 740,000.
The data also showed a broader window of activity, with most visits now occurring between 10 a.m. and about 8 p.m., compared with 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. previously.
Lamielle said the numbers suggest the town’s investment is producing results, but many opportunities remain.
Board members have also discussed expanding pedestrian connectivity across the railroad tracks and linking the downtown area with nearby destinations such as Main Street Park, the library, and surrounding neighborhoods.
“The existing data confirms our investments are working, and what we decide next determines whether we maximize this momentum or miss it,” the presentation concluded, noting that the next challenge will be ensuring the town can capture and extend that activity.
Several recommendations from the original streetscape plan remain unfinished or under review. Among them are installing additional street trees along the Poplar Street gateway corridor, expanding upper-story residential units in downtown buildings, and exploring the creation of a farmers market space along Talbooth Street.
Some projects have faced obstacles. A proposed pedestrian pathway along North Sycamore Street was denied due to railroad right-of-way constraints, though alternative options could be explored in the future.
Other ideas under discussion include expanding public art installations and creating additional downtown events to draw visitors.
Lamielle said town staff will continue reviewing progress with the Downtown Aberdeen Advisory Board and the state’s Main Street program to identify priorities for future investment.
“We’ve seen a number of successes,” she told the board. “We have some room to grow and a long way to go to really hit all of those areas, but we’re moving in a good direction.”
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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