Holidays Awaken Our Sixth Sense: Longing for Yesterday

With the ringing of the bells outside of stores, the shuffle of shoppers running in and out of shops and boutiques, the crinkling sound of brand new bags filled with purchase after purchase, the sweet aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg and pine filling the air, the entire experience of the holiday season awakens every one of our senses. But what is often not forgotten is that sixth sense we all experience around the holiday season: the sense of memory, nostalgia, the longing for yesterday.

Back in my hometown in northeast Tennessee, I begin hearing and reading the call to shop downtown around Christmas time. The reminders begin being broadcast aloud for all to choose downtown for their holiday shopping destination. Remember the days of the past when, for me, my mom and dad took me downtown onto Depot Street, right off of Main Street, to patronize the once "mom and pop-like" JC Penney's, Watsons, Anderson's, and the fabric shops along the way. I clearly remember the quaint ambiance and close knit shopping experience of my childhood with fondness and wish to forget the stressful shopping of more recent years in large shopping malls and big box retailers, filled with buggies and carts clearing out not only the items along the aisles but the people standing in them as well! We all experience the hectic frantic frenzy of holiday shopping, but can the same be said for the shopping experiences we have in our quaint downtown's? I would dare so that more often than not, those of us who do choose to find that perfect distinctive gift for our loved ones in that distinctive boutique downtown will find a warm welcome as we walk in the door; a friendly gesture to genuinely help us in our shopping quest; and finally, yes, even a distinctive shopping bag filled with tissue to hold our newly purchased holiday gift.

During this holiday season, as cliche as it sounds, let's not forget the reason for the season...for those of us who are Christians, it is a time to remember the ultimate gift of all - the birth of our Savior. For all of us, it is a time to savor the gift of our families and loved ones. And in the meantime, enjoy the simple things in life, the easy things in the life, and the unique and distinctive things in life - the things that make up special memories. For many of us, those special memories were built and began around our own Main Street's. Why not make those memories again this year with our own loved ones to remember and cherish for years to come. Where is your Main Street? What special memories do you have of that quaint place within your city or town? Where are the holiday decorations garnishing the old-timey light posts in your town right now? Have you and your family made it down there yet this year? You just might be surprised at the memory-making that awaits.

Because we can, and we should

No matter the amount of capital, no matter the scale of the project, I am always amazed at the commitment of the investor - public or private, large or small – who puts money into a building others deem too expensive to take on. It is not the average person that commits to investing in a downtown, especially a downtown that is dilapidated and deteriorating. These are the downtowns that need them the most. It takes individuals with vision, with sound heart and mind, and a committed desire for excellence who puts any time and effort into the improvement of a downtown building. Individuals from the private sector, individuals from the public sector – and not just individuals, but leaders. Leaders who can step up to the plate and say that it is time to make a difference. Time to save their dying downtown. Time to do what they can to save what little reminders of our history we have in this country. Simply stated, this commitment takes place because "we can, and we should."


Unfortunately for me, I can take no credit for that statement. At a recent public launching of the "Rediscover Greeneville" downtown redevelopment initiative in Greeneville, a quaint, beautiful historic town in northeast Tennessee, a prominent local businessman and philanthropist Scott Niswonger shared this philosophy after being asked repeatedly why he wanted to renovate several aging downtown buildings. His reply? "It's because we can, and we should." According to the Greeneville Sun, he went on to say "It's unfortunate that most people who have attained some degree of success and wealth wait until fairly late in their lives or their careers to do any significant giving. Some choose to wait until their death. I'm convinced that it's much more fun to see the result of giving before death." Niswonger concluded those remarks with "We give to benefit those who will follow."

Imagine if more people, no matter the scale of their success and wealth, no matter the scale of the project they choose, carried this philosophy and really got it. Really got what it means to invest in a downtown. Imagine if more people carried their passion to build their community into their business philosophy like Lucas Piatt, vice president for Millcraft Industries Inc, a group on the verge of remaking downtown Pittsburgh. Yet again, simply stated, he said "We care about Pittsburgh. We could have gone to growth areas…but decided Pittsburgh is where we wanted to be" and then committed to putting their investment downtown.

It is time for more businesses to step up in those communities in need of revitalization. It is time for more local governments to step up in those communities in need of revitalization. They should do so because "we can, and we should."

Historic Districts...A good idea or bad?

"On our stroll through the gardens and green walks, the streets and alleys, in and out of the buildings of today's city we sense what Philadelphia was like long ago and ultimately what the roots of American history are....Here is where a country was born. The buildings, the taverns, and the cobbled walks used by the Founders of America are, in great number, preserved for all to enjoy. Come...take a tour...of the Historic District - the Most Historic Mile in America." As found on the US History.org website on historic districts.

Imagine what Philadelphia would be like today if the visionaries of the city had not made the decision many years ago to preserve its history and establish a historic district. The distinction would be lost, and more importantly, that history would have been lost. Or, take a look at a city like Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston was the first city in the country to initiate an official Historic District that in essence restricted the rights of property owners, limiting what they might do to their buildings in the interest of the welfare of the entire community. I can only imagine the backlash Charleston felt from disgruntled property owners concerned in how many more loop holes they would have to crawl through before doing a renovation. But, imagine a Charleston today without a designated Historic District; a city with no restrictions on what a property owner could do to those glorious, majestic and historic buildings. All it takes is one property owner with no regard for historic integrity but with free range to turn an architectural landmark into a suburban box, opening a huge can of worms for others to follow. Charleston took a risk and pioneered this for this country because with years, they had seen a loss of architectural integrity that was jeopardizing the local sense of the neighborhood identity. Charleston took the first leap of looking at the inventory of an entire American building stock, even with those mixed in with no architectural significance but a part of something greater, and placing a designation that would preserve that building stock for generations to come and ensure any improvements to the noncontributing structures must comply with their neighbors high architectural standards.

Put the integrity issue aside and look at the hard numbers. Between 1980 and 1996, Rome Georgia saw properties in designated historic districts increase 10% more in value than similar properties without historic designations. Columbia South Carolina's historic districts sold 26% faster than the overall market in 2000. Studies in Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania saw an overall increase of 5-20% in property values, proving that historic district designations have such a positive impact on property values. But what came first, the district or the improved property values? The district designation came first.

With so many code restrictions, what makes historic district designations a good thing? District designations distinguish an area from other areas of a community which do not have distinct qualities (such as its history or the quality of its buildings). It is about the sense of being a part of something greater. Even Bob Vila, renowned construction guru not known for historic preservation believes that owning property within an historic district offers the unique opportunity to interpret and share the history of your property, as steward of a recognized contributor to our nation's past.

What does it take? It takes three major factors:
1. Strong public leadership (i.e., a strong mayor willing to take a risk)
2. Strong private leadership
3. Solid financial resources of both government and the private citizens

When I hear of communities afraid of taking risks, afraid of stepping forward and creating historic districts, I cringe. This country has too many great examples of what can happen when government puts "nasty" restrictions on property owners in an historic district. Isn't that what being in an historic downtown is all about? Why work so hard to build your downtown yet be afraid of "restrictions" on how to build your downtown? In too many successful cases (Charleston, Philadelphia, Boston, New Orleans, Alexandria, Santa Fe) restrictions have been the reason for the successful sense of integrity that draws someone to buy property in that area in the first place. But that successful sense of integrity was not what started it: As in the case with Charleston, the loss of that integrity is what caused the city to stop and put restrictions in place in an effort to prevent further loss and begin building towards a successful future.

Too many believe that success must come first, then historic district designation comes second, if at all. Who will know other than you and your immediate neighbors that your building is in an historic area? How will you tell the world, the tourists, the visitors that your building you've worked so hard to preserve is worth a trip to see? How can you, as an historic property owner, be assured that your next door neighbor won't cover those beautiful architecturally curved brick windows with a solid concrete slab, resulting in the ripple effect loss of value in your own building? Haven't you seen that happen already? How do you reverse the trend? By starting with historic preservation NOW. By setting a district in place now, and yes, by letting your local government tell you - and that non-historic thinking neighbor of yours - what to do and what not to do to your building. And if you don't like how your local government operates the program, then run for office. Run for the Historic Commission. Run for something that can make the program do what it's supposed to do. But, by all means, do not sit back and watch your piece of the puzzle that makes up this incredible picture of our great country fall prey to non-historic approaches, losing the story that collectively tells where this country came from, simply because you don't want someone telling you what you can or can't do to your historic building. That historic district is a part of a much greater beautiful picture: it is about the historic integrity of this entire country fitting together, piece by piece, historic area by historic area. And property owners within that area should feel a sense of pride for being in that special district and being a part of something greater than a strip mall shopping district can provide.

"Change is debilitating when done to you, but exhilarating when done by you." Rosemary Moss Kanter, "World Class"

If this debate is going on in your community, find a way to make the restrictions work so that you can experience the exhilarating feeling of being a part of something that preserves the integrity of this country for generations to come.

Something for the businesses

One can't help but get excited when big business does something to recognize small business. Perhaps that CEO had a nostalgic moment remembering the day he or she started up his or her company as a "small business" before it exploded. Or, perhaps that CEO secretely has Main Street in his or her blood. Everyone knows that once you've been a part of a Main Street downtown community, that passion for downtown stays with you for life. Whatever the reason, the excitement only builds when the bottom line is read, and the recognition to that small business comes in the form of recognizing the collaboration between the business and a growing business district community (a.k.a Main Street!).

I stumbled across this incredibly cool opportunity called "Small Business Big Dreams". The company IKEA is recognizing businesses that get the larger picture. Those that not only are focused in on making their own business a success, but also see how they fit in with the greater community. Businesses that not only have a vision and energy about their own company, but also about the growth of their downtown business district. And the best part is that when they collectively come together, IKEA will recognize them with a Main Street Makeover that is just for them.

Check this out and spread the word.
http://business.ikea.com/Ikea/siteshell/startup.html#,en;frontpage
Jump at this chance to get interior renovations for up to 10 businesses in your downtown community, which may even include your business. Sometimes, you just gotta love the passion and that entrepreneurial spirit that makes Main Street just that, Main Street.

All about the little things

Being in southwest Michigan opens ones eyes to an enormous amount of quaint little downtown's in places with populations no greater than 2,000. The one thing I find incredibly telling is the amount of resources these small communities put into their historic downtown's.

Recently, my husband and I were on a drive through the plains of Michigan when suddenly we came upon an area filled with banners. Now, let me stop here for a moment and explain. To those of you who have not had the privilege of exploring the area up here, most of the routes around this area are reached by small, two lane roads that stretch for miles. There aren't a lot of 4 lane highways, but to get from one major highway to another, you must take a small, two lane road for at least 10 miles. As you drive, you find yourself popping from one little town or village to another. These roads then end up becoming a community's "Main Street" even if it is not named so. It truly makes for a true sight seeing trip even if you are only headed to the nearest pet supply store.

Back to the banners. We looked up and there were these beautiful, bright, vibrant banners hanging on older cobra style light posts that said "Downtown" and "The Place to Bee" with bee's swarming across the intensely blue canvas. Before I even had a chance to see any buildings or shops whatsoever, I knew we had arrived in a unique place. I wanted to stop and spend an hour or so walking up and down the street that was lined with these majestic banners just screaming at me, the outside visitor, to stop and meander a while!

Driving through the little town, I noticed there really wasn't a lot to do...there wasn't a lot of shops, but there was the most powerful, overwhelming impression to this outsider that the amount of pride put into this town was enough to make me stop. It was enough to get me to walk into the local hardware store that I may not even need to walk into. It was enough to help me see that in cities across the country today, where resources are scarce, that investing in the historic downtown core is what makes people stop and explore - truly explore - that particularly city. It isn't the big box retailer that sits up against the Interstate. It certainly isn't the run down part of town with no streetscape enhancements whatsoever. It is the places that, whether or not a big time investor has stepped in and put in major capital, tell the world how proud they are of their city. Their town. Their community. These places don't wait for the private sector to step up. They wait for the people to come after they shout out to the world - be it in the form of banners, welcome signs, way finding signs, whatever - we are proud of the place we are, and proud of who we are and where we came from, and by george, stop and explore our quaint little town we call "downtown".

Mistaken Development

Why do I dedicate the professional portion of my life to downtown development? This is a question I'm often asked, and one I often ask myself...

Last week I was in Chicago for the day with my husband and was reminded why I do what I do. It had been several years since I had been to Chicago and now that we live 1.5 hours away, we ventured over for the day and loved every minute....the eclectic people, places, food, everything. The most beautiful architecture is still found in this city that has been so carefully preserved...there are well over 100 TIF districts around that city (130 at my last count) and those districts are working little by little to bring the older neighborhoods back to the beauty they once originally were. The parks, phenomenal. The green space, beautiful. The architecture, breath taking. The restaurants and shops, vibrant. The people, healthy with so much to do! The cultural opportunities, abundant.

When we arrived, a banner waved to us. It said "Laugh. Stay. Dance." and that's just what we did. The historic "Chicago Public Library", majestically built in 1897 now sits surrounded by tall, modern skyscrapers...a true diamond among the cubic zirconia. With a genuine mix of Italian Renaissance, Greek and Neo-Greco architecture, this building was the real deal.

Wrigley Field, another diamond, built in 1914, is one of the last standing true all American ballparks and is found opposite town from the cubic zirconian ballpark, the White Sox's U.S. Cellular Field. I have nothing against the White Sox for all you Sox fans out there, by the way. But, Wrigley Field...U.S. Cellular Field....I mean seriously. The name says it all. Wrigley Field is set in the middle of the spirited North Side neighborhood where people sit on top of their apartment buildings, stand down on the street by the most awesome gated view of the field, just to catch a glimpse of their home team...the Cubbies. This is THE ALL AMERICAN BALL PARK, a pre-war stadium no less. I can only imagine games back in the day, during the war, played on that very field, in that very stadium.

The part that causes me to write what I'm writing, the most tragic part is that there are rumors going around (even if untrue, leave me with this thought) that the stadium may be torn down to build a much more modern, more grand ballpark. All in the name of "development". All to appeal to the largely growing majority that don't like the experience of going to Wrigley because, in their own words, it's so old and dirty...nothing like the one's they're used to today. Come on, people....again...U.S. Cellular Field?? Are they dreaming of one day heading off to a watch the Cubs play at the "Quilted Northern Field" because Quilted Northern Super Absorbent Bathroom Tissue is willing to sponsor a new field in a more modern setting? Now that would really sum it up. Where is the pride.

My husband and I are headed to a game next Sunday...I can't wait for the experience of watching a major league game in a park the way baseball was made to be back in the day....seeing the people watching from their rooftops...smelling the hot dogs, peanuts and popcorn....sitting in a truly historic landmark for the City of Chicago in a truly historic neighborhood where, get this, you can't even really park to get to the game. No big, tall parking garages or large flat asphalt parking lots that go for miles...just cool, old, beautifully quaint apartment buildings, houses, bars, restaurants...all surrounding the park. The way the experience of baseball in America was meant to be.

So while my growing blog keeps growing, I just have to say that the reason I do what I do is to keep that historic integrity alive. Keep those landmarks around this country alive. And work to help great cities who may have been buried under the dust of "modern development" blow off that dust and find the beauty that was there, and is still there, in the most effective ways possible. These gems like Wrigley Field just make me happy there are still people out there that get that...and the rumors of tearing it down make me sad there are still people out there that don't get it and somehow - in today's era of historic preservation and national Main Street movements - somehow still win.

I love what I do...and I can't wait to truly experience the historic beauty that still stands in North Chicago...and while we're at it of course, watch the Cubs play ball!