Category: Development

Sustainability in Your Community: Main Street Center Member Resources

November 17, 2010

The National Trust Main Street Center has adopted sustainable development as a key issue in 2010. The Center takes a holistic approach to sustainability, encompassing not just green building but economic and social sustainability as well. The Center provides a variety of resources to help you make sustainability a reality in your community: Free Publications … More Sustainability in Your Community: Main Street Center Member Resources

Greening Your Downtown

November 12, 2010

On November 3 and 4, the Virginia Downtown Development Association (VDDA) hosted their annual conference, this year focusing on sustainability in a traditional downtown environment. The conference was held in Charlottesville, where the 40 participants were able to witness first-hand the benefits of employing “green” development strategies. Charlottesville is committed to having a green downtown … More Greening Your Downtown

Designing a Marketplace

October 7, 2010

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

VDDA Hot Topic Luncheon focuses on traditional downtown design

August 24, 2010

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

Micro-loans a resource for downtown entrepreneurs

August 2, 2010

A recent New York Times article, “With Credit Tight Microlending Blossoms,” highlights the nation’s growing micro-enterprise resources. Long popular as an anti-poverty strategy in developing countries and gaining a foothold here over the past two decades, micro-loans are providing more access to entrepreneurs now squeezed out of traditional credit markets. Kiva, an international micro-lender founded … More Micro-loans a resource for downtown entrepreneurs

Virginia Preservation Toolkit, a green guide?

June 14, 2010

Historic preservation is gaining popular recognition as a “green” practice connected to broader sustainability goals.  After all, reuse of a historic building is fundamental recycling.  From a national perspective, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has created a Sustainability and Historic Preservation Web resource for homeowners, Main Street communities and preservation planners.   Now Virginia can … More Virginia Preservation Toolkit, a green guide?

The unexpected entrepreneur

May 21, 2010

If you were asked to describe an entrepreneur, what words would you use?  Maybe terms like “bright, energetic, or magnetic.”  This 2004 article in the aptly named magazine Entrepreneur, gives a whole host of other terms, not all of them complimentary.  Two descriptions of an entrepreneur that most people would not use are “ex-felon,” and … More The unexpected entrepreneur

Virginia Main Street announces Downtown Improvement Grant opportunity for designated communities

May 6, 2010

In an ongoing celebration of the Virginia Main Street’s 25th anniversary, the Virginia Main Street program has announced a rare funding opportunity specifically for designated Virginia Main Street communities.  Downtown Improvement Grants of up to $2,500 per designated community are now available for special, one-time projects.  The grant opportunity is designed to offer communities the ability … More Virginia Main Street announces Downtown Improvement Grant opportunity for designated communities

Altavista’s first historic district

April 12, 2010

Altavista arose in the late 19th century, soon after the regional Virginian Railway extended an east-west line,  intersecting with the Southern Railway, a major east coast corridor.  The Lane brothers, realizing the commercial opportunity, purchased 2,000 acres at the junction, and proceeded to build Altavista and the Lane Home Furnishings from a fledgling cedar chest … More Altavista’s first historic district