LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Lincolnton is following the lead of other North Carolina cities and adding a social district for its downtown.
City leaders voted to approve the district on Thursday after over an hour of debate. A public hearing was held on the issue as well.
The social district will run from Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. This was a compromise, down from the initial seven-day-a-week proposal.
City council has been split on the issue since the idea was first presented at a meeting in February.
Co-owner of BrickTree Brewing Co. John Brinsfield led that presentation, going through the details of a possible social district, to the council.
The designated public drinking space would be around Lincolnton’s Court Square and about 10 local establishments are already on board to become permitted participants.
Brinsfield said surrounding cities like Newton, Hickory and Kannapolis have already established social districts without any issues.
Some city leaders recognize the economic opportunity.
"When you’re talking to your managers and your mayors, the main thing they want to do is make sure they’re giving their merchants the best chance of surviving," said Lincolnton City Manager Ritchie Haynes. "And I think that’s the reason why most of them have followed suit."
While others say it’s an open door for problems with public intoxication.
"If somebody gets in a fight between one place to the other and then in five minutes they take off running, it’s over with," said Lincolnton City Councilmember Roby Jetton. "I mean how are you going to control it?"
In that meeting, Brinsfield said there would be designated signage and Lincolnton Police would help enforce the rules of the social district to keep everyone safe.
The public hearing on the social district will give speakers three minutes each to address the mayor and city council.
Those wanting to speak will need to sign in with the city clerk.
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