Delaware Main Street: A Tool for Downtown Revitalization

DDelaware elaware MMain ain SStreettreet

A Tool For DowntownA Tool For DowntownRevitalizationRevitalization

Traditions...Traditions...

Cultural activities...Cultural activities...

Special Events...Special Events...

Unique historic streetscapes...Unique historic streetscapes...

AttractionsAttractions......

Unique businesses...Unique businesses...

TheThe traditional downtown has thetraditional downtown has thepotential to offer and promote..potential to offer and promote..

•• Attractive, historic assetsAttractive, historic assets

•• Unique styleUnique style

•• Unique productsUnique products

soso……

……what happened to Main Street?what happened to Main Street?

•• Competition:Competition: Malls and strip shopping Malls and strip shoppingcenters provide goods and services.centers provide goods and services.

•• Economic decline:Economic decline: Many downtowns are Many downtowns aresuffering from disinvestment.suffering from disinvestment.

•• Poor appearance:Poor appearance: Many commercial cores Many commercial coresare physically unattractive.are physically unattractive.

Is there hope for Main Street?Is there hope for Main Street?

•• CommunityCommunity’’s core represents much of itss core represents much of itseconomy.economy.

•• Downtown serves area beyond town-proper.Downtown serves area beyond town-proper.

•• Individually-owned stores can offer aIndividually-owned stores can offer a““personal touch.personal touch.””

•• Opportunity to experience unique style andOpportunity to experience unique style andan historic sense of place.an historic sense of place.

YES!YES!

BUTBUT……Successfully revitalizing a downtownSuccessfully revitalizing a downtownwill not take place without...will not take place without...

•• a comprehensive plana comprehensive plan

•• committed volunteerscommitted volunteers

•• ongoing strategies to improveongoing strategies to improve

The Main Street ProgramThe Main Street Program……

helps a group of interested people in the helps a group of interested people in thedowntown or urban neighborhood form andowntown or urban neighborhood form an““umbrella organizationumbrella organization””

so that they can create a so that they can create a…… unified plan and voice for the commonunified plan and voice for the common

vision and common revitalization goalsvision and common revitalization goalsthat represents various entities andthat represents various entities andinterests of the downtown.interests of the downtown.

Main Street builds through:Main Street builds through:

economic developmenteconomic development

historic preservationhistoric preservation

Delaware Main StreetDelaware Main Street’’s Missions Mission : :

To provide DelawareTo provide Delaware’’s historic commercials historic commercialdistricts with the tools to:districts with the tools to:

> > promote economic stabilitypromote economic stability in inbusiness and workforcebusiness and workforce

> retain and enhance the downtown> retain and enhance the downtown’’ssunique sense of placeunique sense of place

Delaware Main Street isDelaware Main Street is……

•• Affiliated with the National Trust Main StreetAffiliated with the National Trust Main StreetCenter (a program of the National Trust forCenter (a program of the National Trust forHistoric Preservation)Historic Preservation)

•• DelawareDelaware’’s downtown revitalizations downtown revitalizationprogram, created in 1994 by the Delawareprogram, created in 1994 by the DelawareTourism Office.Tourism Office.

•• Housed within the Delaware EconomicHoused within the Delaware EconomicDevelopment Office (DEDO) in Dover, DE.Development Office (DEDO) in Dover, DE.

Delaware Main Street TownsDelaware Main Street Towns

NewarkNewark

MiddletownMiddletown

SmyrnaSmyrna

DoverDover

Brandywine Village Brandywine Village (Wilmington)(Wilmington)

Delaware CityDelaware City

Rehoboth BeachRehoboth Beach

Vital statisticsVital statistics……Business & Job CreationBusiness & Job Creation

122 new businesses122 new businesses

942 new jobs942 new jobs

1996 through June 20051996 through June 2005

More statistics...More statistics...

Building RehabilitationsBuilding Rehabilitations

641641façade improvements &façade improvements & building rehabilitations building rehabilitations

1996 1996 –– June 2005 June 2005

a few more statistics...a few more statistics...

Monetary investmentMonetary investment

1996 - 20051996 - 2005

Every dollar of public investmentEvery dollar of public investmenthas been matched by nearlyhas been matched by nearly

$2 in private investment.$2 in private investment.

Public investment $59,587,728 Public investment $59,587,728

Private investment $110,816,668 Private investment $110,816,668

Look at all the potentialLook at all the potentialfor for ourour downtown! downtown!

How does theHow does theMain Street programMain Street programpull it all together?pull it all together?

The Four Point ApproachThe Four Point Approach

•• OrganizationOrganization

•• DesignDesign

•• PromotionPromotion

•• Economic RestructuringEconomic Restructuring

OrganizationOrganization…… the root of successful revitalizationthe root of successful revitalization

PromotionPromotion

DesignDesign EconomicEconomic Restructuring Restructuring

____________________________________________________________

Organization Organization

OrganizationOrganization

Establishes consensus andEstablishes consensus andcooperation by buildingcooperation by buildingpartnerships.partnerships.

•• Develops Mission & VisionDevelops Mission & Vision

•• Creates By-LawsCreates By-Laws

•• Manages Personnel and FinancesManages Personnel and Finances

•• Promotes the ProgramPromotes the Program

DesignDesign

Shapes the physical image ofShapes the physical image ofMain Street.Main Street.

•• Public and Private BuildingsPublic and Private Buildings

•• Public Space & StreetscapePublic Space & Streetscape

•• Signage, Lighting, LandscapingSignage, Lighting, Landscaping

•• Façade ImprovementsFaçade Improvements

•• Design Guidelines & IncentivesDesign Guidelines & Incentives

PromotionPromotion

Sells the image and promise ofSells the image and promise ofMain Street to all prospects.Main Street to all prospects.

•• Promotes the downtown throughPromotes the downtown through

•• Image CampaignsImage Campaigns

•• Retail PromotionsRetail Promotions

•• Festivals & special eventsFestivals & special events

Economic RestructuringEconomic Restructuring

Identifies economic opportunities inIdentifies economic opportunities inthe downtown.the downtown.

•• Market and manage downtown propertiesMarket and manage downtown properties

•• Create balanced commercial mixCreate balanced commercial mix

•• Develop merchant skillsDevelop merchant skills

•• Offer incentives to retain and recruitOffer incentives to retain and recruitkey businesseskey businesses

10 Criteria for Recognition as a10 Criteria for Recognition as aNational Main StreetNational Main Street

CommunityCommunity1. Broad-based Support1. Broad-based Support

2. Vision and Mission2. Vision and MissionStatementsStatements

3. Comprehensive Master3. Comprehensive MasterPlanPlan

4. Historic Preservation Ethic4. Historic Preservation Ethic

5. Active Board of Directors5. Active Board of Directors

6. Operating Budget6. Operating Budget

7. Program Manager7. Program Manager

8. Training for Staff8. Training for Staffand Volunteersand Volunteers

9. Reporting of Key9. Reporting of KeyStatisticsStatistics

10. National Main10. National MainStreet NetworkStreet Network

Some commonSome commonmisconceptions...misconceptions...

•• DE Main Street gives money toDE Main Street gives money tocommunitiescommunities……

•• DE Main Street will do theDE Main Street will do thework for youwork for you……

More misconceptions...More misconceptions...

•• Main Street can fix everything thatMain Street can fix everything that’’sswrong in the downtown AND do itwrong in the downtown AND do itovernightovernight……

•• After the streetscape is done, theAfter the streetscape is done, theprogram is finishedprogram is finished……

•• ItIt’’s impossible for our town to raises impossible for our town to raise$40,000 or $50,000$40,000 or $50,000……

What does Delaware Main StreetWhat does Delaware Main Streetprovide to participating towns?provide to participating towns?

•• Advocacy at state level and promotion at theAdvocacy at state level and promotion at thenational levelnational level

•• Design assistanceDesign assistance•• Technical assistance and trainingTechnical assistance and training•• Help for small business ownersHelp for small business owners•• Communication with National Main StreetCommunication with National Main Street

CenterCenter•• Network membership to Main StreetsNetwork membership to Main Streets

nationwidenationwide

Our future is up to usOur future is up to us……

““We each write the history of our communitiesWe each write the history of our communitieswith the choices we make every day about thewith the choices we make every day about the

places that are important to us and to ourplaces that are important to us and to ourimages of what our communities mean.images of what our communities mean.

““The markers we leave will tell futureThe markers we leave will tell futuregenerations what we value about ourselves andgenerations what we value about ourselves andour communities. We are our own stewards ofour communities. We are our own stewards of

the history people will learn about us ...the history people will learn about us ...

Kennedy Smith, Former Director Kennedy Smith, Former Director National Trust Main Street Center National Trust Main Street Center

““ItIt’’s up to us,s up to us,and the choices we make,and the choices we make,to decide what the markersto decide what the markers

for the future will be.for the future will be.””

Kennedy Smith, Former DirectorKennedy Smith, Former Director National Trust Main Street Center National Trust Main Street Center

Since the inception of Main StreetSince the inception of Main Streetnationally in 1970nationally in 1970……

* 244,545 jobs* 244,545 jobs* 60,500 businesses* 60,500 businesses

* over 96,000 buildings rehabbed* over 96,000 buildings rehabbed

How YOU can supportHow YOU can supportMain Street...Main Street...

•• Shop downtown!Shop downtown!

•• Be a Main Street sponsor!Be a Main Street sponsor!

•• Become a member of your local MainBecome a member of your local MainStreet program!Street program!

•• Initiate a Main Street program in YOURInitiate a Main Street program in YOURtown!town!

To learn more:To learn more:

•• Call:Call: 302-739-4271 302-739-4271

•• Write:Write:Delaware Main Street (DEDO)Delaware Main Street (DEDO)99 Kings Highway99 Kings Highway

Dover, DE 19901 Dover, DE 19901

•• E.mail: Diane.Laird @state.de.usE.mail: Diane.Laird @state.de.us

Portions of this presentation were excerpted fromPortions of this presentation were excerpted fromNational Main Street Center 1996 (and later)National Main Street Center 1996 (and later)

publications:publications:

•• Main Street Committee Members HandbooksMain Street Committee Members Handbooks

•• Revitalizing DowntownRevitalizing Downtown

To contact the National Trust Main Street Center:To contact the National Trust Main Street Center:

•• Phone: 202-588-6219 Phone: 202-588-6219 •• Visit: www.Visit: www.mainstmainst.org..org.

Downtown Newark PartnershipDowntown Newark Partnership

Rehoboth Beach Main StreetRehoboth Beach Main StreetUnique shopping and dining!Unique shopping and dining!

Rehoboth Beach Main StreetRehoboth Beach Main StreetFaçade & Signage Grants!Façade & Signage Grants!

Rehoboth Beach Main StreetRehoboth Beach Main StreetFestivals!Festivals!

Rehoboth Beach Main StreetRehoboth Beach Main StreetDolphin Project!Dolphin Project!

Rehoboth Beach Main StreetRehoboth Beach Main StreetStreetscape project!Streetscape project!

Rehoboth Beach Main Street isRehoboth Beach Main Street isOpen for Business!Open for Business!

Middletown Main StreetMiddletown Main StreetBusiness developmentBusiness development

Middletown Main StreetMiddletown Main StreetOrganizationOrganization

Middletown Main StreetMiddletown Main StreetDesignDesign

Middletown Main StreetMiddletown Main StreetEconomic RestructuringEconomic Restructuring

Middletown Main StreetMiddletown Main StreetPromotionsPromotions

Positively Middletown!Positively Middletown!

““ItIt’’s up to us,s up to us,and the choices we make,and the choices we make,to decide what the markersto decide what the markers

for the future will be.for the future will be.””

Kennedy Smith, Former DirectorKennedy Smith, Former Director National Trust Main Street Center National Trust Main Street Center