HERITAGE MATTERS

Tag: downtowns

  • Expansion of the National Main Street Program

    As many downtowns nationwide began to face their decline and shift into irrelevance as the suburbs began taking over, the National Trust for Historic Preservation took a concerted interest to research what was really going on behind this decline and if there was anything that could be done to save the fate of downtowns from complete absolution. They began studying and analyzing various downtowns in the Midwest to pinpoint which factors were at play, as well as to create a program which would aid in remedying this downfall to include economic rehabilitation and the preservation of invaluable historic structures.

    From the study region of the Midwest, the National Trust chose three downtowns, Galesburg, Illinois, Madison, Indiana, and Hot Springs, South Dakota, that would become their pilot communities to further analyze and implement unique rehabilitation plans for each locale. Once the research was gathered, the National Trust hired program managers to implement these revitalization plans for each of the communities through grants. Once the designated time span of three years passed, the downtowns were again analyzed and it was found that all of the pilot communities had greatly benefitted from the National Trust’s efforts. New businesses had opened and “occupancy rates and property tax collections had increased.”[1] More impressively, “for each dollar which went towards implementation of the Main Street Program, an average of $11 had been invested by the private sector in rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of buildings in the pilot communities.”[2] This meant that historic and vacant buildings in towns were being brought back to life and given a new use once again.

    The success of these pilot communities was reason enough to spread the success to other downtowns in an attempt to combat the plaguing damage most, if not all, downtowns were facing at the time. The National Trust started the National Main Street Center, based upon the success of the pilot communities. The original program managers became the key staff members for this new venture. With the joining of the International Downtown Executive’s Association, it was decided a state-level demonstration would be shared as the states could then pass on this knowledge with their towns and cities accordingly. States would also be able to network with other states, sharing their experiences and spreading this information even further.

    Through another competition to implement this new state-level program, the National Trust chose Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas. Each state was then allowed to choose 5 cities and towns to participate in the study. After implementation and analysis another three years later, the results were again successful and promising: new local organizations were developed or strengthened, commerce increased, rehabilitation efforts improved and new construction projects were taking place. The program proved itself to be successful and so it continued to spread from town to city and state-to-state. An annual conference, fittingly named the National Town Meeting, began taking place to allow for expanded reach, further training opportunities and to create a network for experienced and newly interested communities.[3]

    Overall the initial efforts of the Main Street Program of the National Trust realized through the pilot communities helped them to acquire the knowledge and insight into the reasons and factors that destroyed towns as well as those that could successfully rebuild them. The key factor in the Main Street Program’s rebuilding of downtowns and cities was public-private enterprise. With the right support and coordinated interests a successful program could be realized. The successes of the pilot communities created a framework that would go on to benefit many other communities before becoming the Main Street Program that exists today, which is known as the National Main Street Center Inc.. Today, they have expanded the program in an attempt to adapt and respond to the more complexities that time has brought about to cities and towns nationwide. It is likely this program will need to constantly adjust to the growing changes our cities and towns will continue to witness as they evolve, but the initial impacts of the pilot program will never be far from the framework.

    [1]Gunther, Justin. “Unit 3: The National Main Street Program.” Class Notes, SCAD, Savannah, GA, July 7, 2014.
    [2] Ibid.
    [3] “History of the National Main Street Center.” National Trust for Historic Preservation. http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/about-main-street/the-center/history.html#.U8HhtqidmoU (accessed July 8, 2014).

  • Retail Practices

    Retail practices were influenced by the introduction and implementation of new zoning regulations that were a complete opposite to the former downtown organization that had revolved around an effective mixture of residences and businesses. These new zoning regulations dictated that functions would now be separated and grouped into residential, commercial and industrial zones in different areas around town. This along with the rise of automobiles initiated the nationwide exodus of city dwellers to new residential developments located on the outskirts of most city limits. About this same time, larger department stores and shopping centers began opening up in closer proximity to these developments, as downtown was becoming too far and out of the way.

    The vitality of downtowns began to falter, as populations declined and these newer shopping centers and larger department stores took over. Businesses were no longer able to keep up with the cheaper and more numerous competitors and many of these small and local businesses were forced to close. This created vacancies in downtowns and as many individuals were not frequenting the area, they slowly became disconnected fragments. Cities were striving to find ways in which they could compete with this new wave of retail practices, so they opted to follow lead, destroying existing buildings to erect newer and shinier buildings, in hopes it would attract more people.

    An example of this can be found in the history of Clematis Street, which is the main street of downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. In the 20s, Clematis Street was a connection to the local train station with the ferry headed to Palm Beach, but as development began taking off a new bridge began shuffling traffic around Clematis. Next, all the big department stores such as Woolworth and Sears Roebuck soon moved to other parts of towns leaving Clematis irrelevant and mostly vacant. It lost its identity and sense of community. Through the years it opened more higher end stores but as malls brought more competition it did not fare that well. Until recently the area was run down and looking like a forgotten part of town. With planners taking lead of the situation, Clematis has been renewed with life and vibrancy once again, especially with the introduction of the Thursday evening event ‘Clematis by Night’ which has successfully taken off, making shops and restaurants on the street available and open after the past closing times of 5 or 6 PM, with extra entertainment (similar to a block party). It has become more central and inviting to neighboring residents once again and they seem to be encouraging this return to the experience of taking part in a downtown.