Guide to Garner 2020 edition | Page 11

This article was produced in partnership with WRAL Digital Solutions. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from downtown Raleigh—10 minutes to be exact—sits the town of Garner, North Carolina, a community of over 33,000 residents that is the 13th-fastest-growing municipality in the state. Originally established as a stop between Goldsboro and Charlotte along the North Carolina Railroad in the 1850s, Garner has come a long way from its days of cotton and tobacco. The town reflects the innovative culture of the Triangle region while maintaining its idyllic charm, setting itself apart from other municipalities with its hometown allure and stunning community amenities. From its humble, yet picturesque downtown to its expansive outdoor recreation spaces, Garner truly is a “great place to be,” as the town slogan goes. Factor in its proximity to Raleigh as a “doorstep to downtown,” its ease of access, and the enticing cost of living, and you get a community that its residents are proud to call home. Garner transplant Jihan Hodges has lived in the town for the past seven years. Originally from Eastern North Carolina, she knew after completing her graduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that she did not want to be east of the Triangle. After living and working in Raleigh for several years, she and her husband decided to purchase a home in Garner. “Your money in Garner goes a long way. Overall, it’s one of the most affordable places you can live in the area and there’s housing that’s available to people with different kinds of income levels— that’s important,” she said. “We’ve actually had friends move here on our recommendation—we have no desire to move from this area. We’ve planted our roots here and because we like it so much, several years ago I decided to get involved with the town,” continued Hodges, who serves on the board for the Downtown Garner Association. “Garner has so much to offer and is a beautiful place to live.” Hodges noted the prevalence of parks and natural areas in town and Garner’s proximity to regional amenities as some of the reasons why she loves living in town. “You don’t have to travel far to get to things, which was important to us,” she said. “We wanted to live somewhere that had more of the hometown feel, but without living somewhere very rural.” Garner is becoming increasingly connected to downtown Raleigh given recent development patterns, and GoTriangle’s eventual bus rapid transit service will offer better transit options for those going back and forth between the neighboring municipalities. “If I had to describe Garner with just one word, it would be ‘love.’ Everybody’s willing to share it.” Garner also has its own dynamic downtown, which is home to several tech and “creativeclass” businesses, a hip café and a new, $9 million recreation center that’s slated to open in 2020. The downtown district also includes Garner Performing Arts Center, which has shows ranging from local community theater to nationally touring acts throughout the year. garnernc.gov 9