Downtown Spindale

Breathing New Life into Downtown Spindale

A multi-pronged project to increase pedestrian mobility, develop a branding strategy, and connect downtown Spindale to the Thermal Belt Trail and other multi-use pathways.

Working with the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority and the Town of Spindale, DbD led an effort to improve pedestrian connectivity and establish a place-brand that encapsulates what makes Spindale unique.

Recreation Master Planning

Downtown Revitalization

Project Scope

Project Client

Spindale NC

West Spindale Site Plan

A Revived Heartbeat

It is often said that downtown represents the heart of the community, and just like with the human body, a town is only as healthy as its “heart” allows it to be. This is especially true with small towns like Spindale.

DbD worked with a range of community members to develop a plan designed to pump life back into downtown Spindale. The project included a streetscape improvement component complemented by a community branding process. Together, downtown improvements and the development of a new brand will redefine Spindale and tell a more compelling story to visitors.

If downtown is the heart of Spindale, then the Thermal Belt Rail Trail is its vital artery. This unique asset flows right through downtown, offering a tremendous opportunity to connect more people with the downtown area.

East Spindale Site Plan

The streetscape master plan leverages The Thermal Belt Trail in a way that enhances the culture, connectivity, and commerce opportunities in downtown Spindale.

Photo Renderings

A Funky Trail-Town Brand

Like many of its small-town peers, Spindale offers a tourism portfolio that centers around outdoor amenities and recreational trails. In an effort to standout from the crowd, DbD developed a strategic brand platform that clearly defines Spindale’s unique assets. The new brand strategy provides a roadmap for how the community can support tourism development and more effectively tell its story.

DbD’s involvement in Spindale is ultimately about synergizing improvements to the built environment with a renewed community brand. Downtown revitalization efforts don’t just change how a community looks, they also change its culture.

This project acknowledges Spindale’s history as a music-loving trail town and weaves that history into a renewed sense of community pride being born out of a modernizing downtown streetscape.