tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57188196208612621232012-01-16T20:11:00.833-05:00A blog by Bridgett Massengill, President and founder of Massengill Consulting, about downtowns, Main Streets, and the tools that make them work. It's downtown...with a view.Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.comBlogger131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-44607700357254359682011-06-13T10:34:00.002-04:002011-06-13T10:40:29.368-04:00

Yesterday I was driving through the middle of North Carolina on a little two lane road for several, several miles. I always enjoy random off-Interstate travels like this, even though we were on them for a good 3 hours or more. As we drove from community to community, I perked up each time we'd hit a new little historic downtown area. Some were filled with banners, welcoming us to their community,

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-76017025580434600082010-03-22T11:37:00.001-04:002010-03-22T11:37:56.355-04:00

Today begins a journey of 10 hidden gems within the borders of the state of Tennessee.  Ten communities were recently selected to be a part of a brand new program the Tennessee Department of Economic Development rolled out a few months ago called "Tennessee Downtowns". (Read about it HERE).  This innovative program was designed to introduce and assist communities through the steps of

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-14003214656671429542009-07-21T16:01:00.033-04:002009-07-22T15:27:09.884-04:00

What is your definition of a great city? What do you think it takes to become an "economic powerhouse"? There are many different elements that make up a great city. While the list could go on and on, here are just a few concrete elements that are imperative to surviving and becoming a strong, economically vibrant city.First, an economically vibrant city must have people. Ok, that's an easy

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-81912163971230360282009-07-12T11:25:00.006-04:002009-07-13T11:41:23.351-04:00

"While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads...." - a line we all grew up hearing, and one that to this day, still gives us child-like feelings of giddy excitement. Dreaming of such vision played a prominent role in many of our lives and the reality of waking up to some sort of tasty candy, whether a "sugar-plum candy" or not, happened. It became proof at such a young age that if you had

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-74015926811545527082008-10-27T16:06:00.006-04:002009-07-13T11:41:52.874-04:00

How many of us grew up playing Monopoly, or built mini-cities with Lego's or other construction-related toys? In adulthood, I often wonder what it would be like to truly build a city, starting from scratch. I wonder what it would be like to be given a huge parcel of vacant land, consisting of hundreds of acres, and with unlimited resources at my discretion, begin building a modern city, block by

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-48588551344575310212008-04-09T12:07:00.012-04:002009-07-13T11:43:48.388-04:00

How many times have the words "What's in your wallet?" been pounded into your mind by the Capital One commercials as you watch television? Through the repetitive advertisements, Capital One works hard to make you, the consumer, feel as if it is an unsafe world out there if your wallet does not contain their credit card. It is, in the minds of Capital One, an essential component of all wallets

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-87252697019699572162008-02-15T11:41:00.004-05:002009-07-13T11:42:13.936-04:00

In light of this year's ever increasing presidential campaigning (and we're not even yet to the general election part of it yet!), I found it most appropriate to capitalize on one of the presidential candidate’s slogan: "Yes We Can" and relate that to downtown development practices today.You see, the importance of this statement -this slogan, this concept - is simple. Without a positive attitude

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-30747707290802227232007-12-11T11:38:00.003-05:002009-07-13T11:42:30.601-04:00

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

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-14719297926777736922007-10-03T17:59:00.004-04:002009-07-13T11:42:45.204-04:00

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

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-80757883558408164382007-07-19T11:10:00.001-04:002008-02-15T12:25:47.501-05:00

"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

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-68388296094761744382007-06-28T17:26:00.002-04:002009-07-13T11:35:56.804-04:00

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

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-29190508078281180702007-06-20T10:01:00.003-04:002009-07-13T11:40:50.491-04:00

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.

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718819620861262123.post-33679523615902424152007-06-13T22:38:00.003-04:002009-07-13T11:43:00.648-04:00

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

Bridgett Massengillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531069594594624127noreply@blogger.com0