The Department of Historic Resources (DHR) posted a new slide show for their web feature “Historic Virginia, Site of the Month.” This month DHR features images and highlights of the changing nature of the circa-1824 Henry County Courthouse, which found new life in 2010 thanks to grants from Save America’s Treasures and the local Harvest … More Martinsville Courthouse Historic Virginia Site of the Month
In the summer of 2010, Virginia Main Street (VMS) provided seven Downtown Improvement Grants (DIGs) that allowed designated Main Street communities to undertake specific projects for which they did not otherwise have funding. The small grants, capped at $2,500, were awarded in a competitive process based on projected outcomes, committee and volunteeer leadership, and the capacity to successfully complete the planned project. While Virginia Main … More Virginia Main Street Downtown Improvement Grants at work
While the typical New Year’s resolution is abandoned somewhere around the long Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, there is a certain feeling of “anything’s possible” in the air during these first few weeks of January. Now really can be a good time to set some goals. Go ahead, think big. If you don’t stretch yourself to do … More New Year’s Resolution Poll
Bedford’s arts-and-antiques strategy to give Centertown a retail identity builds on the community’s existing assets–the entrepreneurs who have establisthed retail and restaurant businesses in the district. Earlier this month Lynchburg’s News and Advance featured the district in a story, “Downtown Bedford venues add life to arts scene“, profiling artists at work at the Electric Company studio spaces, diners … More Bedford’s arts strategy at work
Fast Company recently highlighted the award designed for this year’s graduating class at the top Dutch design school. Instead of a simple hood or diploma, The Design Academy Eindhoven has a special graduating trophy each year. This year, the trophy was actually a set of medallions–one for each of the graduates–that created a pig’s head when stacked. It’s not as undignified as … More Making your work uniquely you
Is your economic restructuring committee effective? Challenges like recruiting businesses and interpreting expensive and technical market studies discourage eager volunteers. There’s no immediate result after hours of meetings and planning. Pressure to see results from business owners, local government and the community compounds the frustration. It’s easy for this committee, in particular, to go inactive. Main Street organizations all over America … More Designing a Marketplace
If you want to lure residents downtown, you’ve got to have basic amenities, like access to groceries and green spaces. Those green spaces are important, because as, one luxury apartment developer in Roanoke discovered, if folks move downtown, they’ll bring their pets with them. With at least one dog in every new condo of this particular building, the … More Dog Park Powers Public Art
Nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and located on the edge of the Washington, D.C. suburbs, the Town of Purcellville has worked to maintain the small town characteristics that have defined the community for centuries. New downtown construction projects and infill developments fit right into the local, historic charm. This achievement made the town the … More VDDA Hot Topic Luncheon focuses on traditional downtown design
With commercial real estate continuing to reel from the economic downturn, some major brands are looking at temporary leases in heavy volume areas. Empty storefronts are not good for anyone, and leases in desireable areas have become much more flexible. These “pop-up” stores are potential strategies for fledging businesses trying out a concept, artists promoting their work, … More Pop-up shops a temporary solution to the empty storefront
The name of retail expert Paco Underhill was batted about at the recent Virginia Main Street toolkit. He’s the fellow who puts a lot of time into considering things like Why We Buy and The Call of the Mall, respectively his 2000 and 2004 treatises on The Science of Shopping and The Geography of Shopping. … More Women and the quality shopping experience
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