CHERRY BLOSSOMS.

• Author: Campbell, Spencer
• Position: STATEWIDE: East

For much of the 20th century, when Wilson called itself "the world's greatest tobacco market," the lodging of choice was the Cherry Hotel, a six-story Beaux Arts structure constructed in 1917. Perry Como, Guy Lombardo and the Fontaine Sisters stayed there, along with tobacco salesmen and executives visiting the city 50 miles east of Raleigh. Like the city's key industry, however, the Cherry fell into disrepair. The hotel closed in 1981, reopened as apartments for the elderly four years later, and was foreclosed in 2011.

Now, with downtown Wilson attracting interest from private investors, city leaders are pushing ahead with plans to redevelop the abandoned Cherry. About $10 million was invested downtown in the 2015-16 fiscal year, including 90% from the private sector. The Nash Street Lofts and the Wilson Furniture Lofts both opened in 2013 and provide upscale apartments. Whirligig Park, which will house the fanciful wind-driven sculptures of revered local artist Vollis Simpson, debuts next month as part of a mixed-use development that will include 88 apartments and a visitors center. A brewery, 217 Brew Works, recently opened nearby.

In 2016, the city began working with the UNC School of Government's Development Finance...