Editorial: DSDC has done its part to save Depot

The Downtown Statesville Development Corporation's sole purpose is to play a leading role in the revitalization of the downtown district.

In these challenging times, that's a full-time job.

With the scant resources at its disposal, the agency shouldn't be sidetracked into spending its precious time and money on preserving a landmark that is not vital to that mission.

The Statesville Depot isn't in the downtown district.

While we applaud the DSDC for the important role it has played in perserving the Depot, now is a good time to pass that torch to someone with the passion and money to carry it forward.

That's the decision the DSDC's board of directors reached leading up to Monday's announcement that it hoped to sell the Depot and move its office downtown.

While some people who put in countless hours and donated thousands of dollars to save the Depot from teh wrecking ball more than a decade ago will undoubtedly criticize that decision, we believe it was the right decision for the DSDC, downtown and the Depot.

As new commercial developments pop up along the Interstate 77 corridor, creating more competition for downtown merchants, it will be more important than ever for the DSDC to remain focused on its central mission.

Executive Director Marin Tomlin and her volunteer board cannot do that from the isolation of Depot Hill.

DSDC has been a good steward of this public treasure for more than 10 years. We trust they will not turn the Depot over to someone who would deviate from that course.