2008-01-14 Regular Meeting and Workshop of La Porte City Council

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NATIONAL TRUST ,y,..lin'I'QRJe IIll!r.sKll\'A.'nu~~ . In 1980 the National Main Street Center was established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to assist with preserving and revitalizing historic downtowns. . More than $2.5 billion has been invested, and communities have built strong organizations to revitalize their commercial districts. THE MAIN STREET FOUR-POINT APPROACH 1. DESIGN takes advantage of the visual opportunities inherent in downtown by directing attention to all of its physical elements: public and private buildings, storefronts, signs. public spaces, landscaping, meocha.ndising, displays, and promotional materials. Its aim is to stress the importance of design quality in all of these areas, to educate people about design quality and to expedite improvements in the downtown. 2. ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING strengthens downtown's existing economic assets while diversifying its economic base. This is accomplished by retaining and expanding existing businesses to provide a balanced commercial mix, by converting unused or underotilized space into productive property and by sharpening the competitivtmess and merchandising skills of downtown business people. THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES 01<' MAIN STREET While the Main Street approach provides the format for successful revila!ization,. implementation of the fOur-point approw;;b is based on eight principles that pertain to all areas of the revitalizatioo effort. 'These eight principles describe all Main 5t:n:et programs: 1. COMPREHENSIVE Downtown revitaJU;ation is a complex process and cannot be ..:complished through a single: project. For succ:essfullong-1emJ. <<Vitalization, a comprehensive approach must be used. 2. INCREMENTAL Small projects aruI simple activities lead to a more sophisticated wxJerstaoding of the revitalization process md help develop skills so that more complex problems can be addressed and more ambitious projects undertaken.. 3. SELF-HELP Localle.delS must have the desire and the will to make the project successful 1be National Main St:n:et Center and the state Main 5t:n:et Programs provide direction, ide&3 and training, but continued and Iong--term success depends upon the involvement and comrnibnent of the community. 4. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP Both the public and private sectors. have a vital inlerest in the economic heahb and physical viability of the downtown. Each sector has a role to play, and each must umlers.tand the other's strengths and limitations so that an effective partner.lhip can be forged. TEXAS . The Texas Main Street Program was established in 1981 and as pan of the Texas Historical Commission. . The mission for downtown revitalization is accontplished through the Main Street Four- Point Approach. THE MAIN STREET FOUR-POINT APPROACH 3. PROMOTION takes many foans, but the aim is to create a positive image in order to rekindle COfIUlluruty pride in the downtown. Promotion seeks to improve retail sales events and festivals and to create a positive public image of the downtown in order to attract investors, developers and new businesses. 4. ORGANIZATION establishes consensus and cooperation by building partnerships among the various groups that have a stake in downtown. This allows the Main Street revitalization program to provide effective. ongoing management and advocacy of the downtown. Diverse groups from the public and private sectors (city and county governments, local bankers, merchants, the Chamber of Conunen:e, property owne.cs, conununity leaders. and others) must work together to create and maintain a successful program. 10 THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF MAIN STREET 5. mENTIFYING AND CAPITALIZING ON EXISTING ASSETS Business districts must capit2lize on the llS$ets that make them unique. Every district has unique qualities - distinctive buildings and human scale that give people a sense ofbeJonging. These local a9gets must serve as the foundation for all aspects of the revitalization program.. 6. QUALITY Quality must be emphasi2ed in every aspect of the revitalization progr::un.. 1his applies equally to eam element of the program, &om storefront design to promotional campaigns to educational programs. 7. CHANGE Changes in attitude and practice are necessary to improve CIUreI1t economic conditions. Public support for change will build as the progum grows. 8. IMPLEMENTATION-ORlENTED Activity creates confidence in the program and ever-gnoatetlevels of participation. Frequent, visible changes are a reminder tbat the revitaJi.zation effort is under way. Small projects at the beginning of the program pave the way for larger activities all the revitalization effurt: matures. 2