City honors streetcar advocate

After advocating transit and urban development for decades, architect Kite Singleton got something in return Thursday – his name on a streetcar maintenance building.

Officials surprised him at a ceremony at the upcoming site of the building at 3rd and Holmes streets.

Mayor Sly James said Singleton is among those who serve quietly and ask for nothing in payment.

“We’re going to give a local transit advocate the reward he deserves for being good – for nothing,” the mayor said. “He’s dedicated his life to the revitalization of the urban core.”

James said the ceremony will be among many as the 2-mile downtown streetcar system moves toward completion in fall of 2015.

“With every milestone we celebrate, we get closer to a finished product,” James said.

As for finally seeing the streetcar system take shape and the building start, Singleton said, “This is a real thing, sticking a foot in the ground and saying we’re going to do this; I am so thrilled, I can’t tell you.”