Tag Archive for: #drstephenpearson

Dr. Stephen Pearson – City’s Orange Street Lot to Bear His Name

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The late Dr. Stephen Pearson, co-founder of Sadie’s Coffee Corner downtown, will be remembered in a ceremony next week.

The City of Henderson will host a ceremony and officially name the city’s Orange Street parking lot after Dr. Pearson.

That lot is next to Sadie’s on South Garnett Street.

The ceremony will take place Tuesday, March 8 at 11 a.m.

The public is invited to attend.

Pearson and Amanda Pearson, his wife, celebrated the grand opening of Sadie’s on November 9, 2019. Pearson died at age 57 about one year ago in late March 2021.

Pearson was well-liked and loved by many and had otherwise risen to the board chair level of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission.

As he said in a video presentation at the 2020 Henderson Vance Chamber of Commerce meeting and banquet, “We came in with very clear goals, a very clear business plan, things that we would absolutely make sure that we changed in the dynamic of business on main street, and we also came with the mindset that if we are going to come down and provide some change, then we’re going to change from the inside. You can’t change things from the outside.”

Downtown Henderson

Town Talk 08/25/20: Henderson-Vance DDC Chair Discusses Downtown Parking

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Dr. Stephen Pearson, chair of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission (DDC), appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Pearson discussed the status of parking in downtown Henderson, addressed safety concerns and shared ideas for improving the traffic flow.

When parking along the main strip on Garnett Street is full, Pearson reminded listeners that many side streets in the downtown area offer public parking as well.

In addition, the lot located near the railroad track that runs behind downtown businesses contains 150 available public parking spots.

Pearson said he doesn’t see walking a short distance to downtown attractions as a deterrent. “By having them park in another place, it forces them to go by other stores and see other things they can do in downtown.”

The DDC’s Economic Vitality Committee is currently in talks of adding public parking signs to downtown, as well as reexamining the flow of traffic, according to Pearson. “They are looking at switching street signs around, so instead of coming down Garnett Street and being pushed away from public parking, people would be pushed towards public parking.”

Calling plans informal at this time, Pearson said the DDC is also discussing the possibility of removing parking spaces and adding a median down the middle of Garnett Street. “This could help control traffic and bring the speed back down to 25 miles per hour,” explained Pearson. “It would force people not to park on the roadway but instead use the designated parking lots.”

Pearson, along with wife Amanda, also co-owns Sadie’s Coffee Corner in downtown Henderson. In addition to making people more aware of public parking options, Pearson said tackling the “myth” of downtown crime is also a major consideration in the revitalization of the area.

“I believe the myth of downtown being murder mayhemville is a crock,” said Pearson. “We’ve [Sadie’s] have been down there a year now. We know everyone on that street. All the vendors get along well, and we all talk to each other. I think Chief Marcus Barrows and the Henderson Police Department have done an absolutely fantastic job, and it’s very safe. Until people get over the blown-out hype and stop spreading the myth, it’s not going to change. That’s one of the things we are fighting with the DDC: getting rid of that perception and building consumer confidence back in our downtown.”

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.