The decline of downtown Gastonia, N.C., began long before Jennifer Harper was born, exacerbated by the collapse of the state's textiles manufacturing industry and the exodus of retailers to suburban shopping malls. But the young Gastonia native is lending her design skills to help restore the town center to its prime - and its roots.
Harper, who graduates in August with a master's degree in industrial design from North Carolina State University, walked into city hall a few months ago when she heard that city officials were planning a new convention center for the downtown area.
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This time it was city officials who were surprised - at the quality of the design work coming from a college student.
"They were really interested in the historical aspects of the design," Harper says. "And they were very pleased with the concept."
City officials have promised to include Harper's name on a plaque in the park. And she'll receive credit from her professors at NC State's College of Design, who have agreed to accept the Gastonia park design as Harper's master's project.
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