Mount Holly Matters
The Mount Holly Community Development Foundation (MHCDF) recently hosted another successful Mount Holly Matters forum in partnership with the City of Mount Holly, bringing residents, city leadership, and development partners together for an open and informative discussion on the future of downtown—specifically the expansion of Veterans Park and surrounding downtown development. Mount Holly Matters is designed to ensure transparency, encourage civic engagement, and give community members a meaningful voice in decisions that shape the city. This forum exemplified those goals by creating space for residents to learn, ask questions, and share feedback on a major town project.
MHCDF Chair Jeff Lee kicking off the forum
The event opened with remarks from MHCDF Chair Jeff Lee, who shared a brief history of the Foundation and its mission to support thoughtful growth, economic development, and community collaboration in Mount Holly. He emphasized the Foundation’s role as a bridge between the community and city leadership, ensuring residents have access to accurate information and opportunities to engage in important conversations.
Following Jeff’s introduction, Mount Holly City Manager Jonathan Blanton addressed the audience, expressing appreciation for the Foundation’s continued partnership and for hosting the forum. He provided an overview of the Veterans Park expansion project and broader downtown development efforts, underscoring the City’s commitment to transparency and public involvement throughout the process. Jonathan then introduced the development team from Streetlights Residential—John Stephens and Robb Bratten—who traveled from Texas to be present for the forum. The developers shared background on their company, its experience with community-focused developments, and walked attendees through the proposed project plans in detail. Using visual mockups and design concepts, they outlined what the expanded park and surrounding development could look like once completed.
Conceptual Site Plan
Plans for the expanded Veterans Park include a mix of community and recreational amenities such as townhomes, a large open lawn, a stage for events, public restrooms, a playground, and a pickleball court. The design aims to create a vibrant, welcoming downtown space that serves residents of all ages while supporting continued growth and economic vitality in Mount Holly.
A key component of this Mount Holly Matters forum was ensuring that community voices were heard. Residents were invited to submit questions by email ahead of time, allowing those who could not attend—or who preferred to share their thoughts in advance—to participate fully. Every submitted question was answered, and a printed handout containing all questions and responses was provided to attendees.
In addition, a feedback form was made available for anyone who had additional comments or questions that were not submitted in advance. This allowed residents to continue sharing their perspectives and ensured that no voices were left out of the conversation.
After the formal presentation concluded, the developers, city staff, and Foundation representatives remained on site to speak one-on-one with community members. This informal time allowed for deeper discussion, clarification, and relationship-building—further reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the event.
MHCDF Board Members from left: Jeff Lee, Patricia Lee, Jarrod Facchino, Teresa Ray, Corrine Kay, Robert Everett, Christie Reeves, Daniel Richard
The Mount Holly Community Development Foundation is proud to support forums like Mount Holly Matters that promote open dialogue, informed decision-making, and community trust. As Mount Holly continues to grow, these conversations are essential to ensuring development reflects the needs, values, and vision of the people who call this city home.
To stay informed about future Mount Holly Matters events and other Foundation initiatives, we encourage residents to follow the MHCDF and remain engaged in shaping Mount Holly’s future—together.
