Downtown, that is. Starting Feb. 13, the Council will hold its meetings in the new Kannapolis Train Station on South Main Street, rather than in the Public Works Operation Center on Bethpage Road. This is a wise move.

First, the obvious: The meeting room in the Train Station seats 120, while the Bethpage Road classroom holds fewer than 80 people. Most chairs sit empty during most Council meetings, but the board needs to be able to accommodate the crowds that do show up when a hot issue arises. A room with 120 seats is more citizen-friendly.

Probably more than 120 people crowded into the Train Station meeting room for the Biotech 101 session in December. Organizers could have used a little more space. The council may have such moments, too.

Moving City Council meetings to the Train Station also takes advantage of an outstanding facility built with taxpayers' money. The city and the N.C. Department of Transportation Rail Division teamed up to build the station, which came into use just a year ago. Since passenger rail traffic is sporadic at this point, the council will be putting the building to use at a time when it (and its parking lot) might otherwise sit empty.

By moving meetings to the station, the Council also brings more people downtown. Even if only a few people attend meetings, they will be here with the knowledge that council members are embracing our downtown. Big box stores may draw shoppers for some items to other areas, but downtown is still the city's heart — for retail, offices and community spirit — and it's fitting for the council to meet there.

This location is temporary. The city expects to get a new city hall out of the N.C. Research Campus deal, also downtown. That could be years off. For now, this is just right.