Convener:  Donna Waddell

Note Taker:  Donna Waddell and Vera Sansalone

Participants: John Moss, Lu Bush, Sheila Matheny, Vera Sansalone, Jay Rogers, and Doug Jackson

Key Themes/Questions/Observations:

•    Ligonier, PA is a model of a nice, beautiful, comfortable town based on ‘new urbanism’ design concepts.

•    First Impressions is a key tool for assessing communities’ downtown needs

•    Main Street is a key tool.  The four point approach is useful; design, promotion, economic restructuring, and organization.  Work plans are developed for each approach.

•    Not all Main St. programs have staff.  Some do.  The city and county have to see the value of Main St. before they will invest in supporting it.

•    The process for starting a Main St. program might be to talk with City Council and the County Commission.  Hotel/Motel tax is a usual source of funds for supporting Main St.

•    Another strategy is to incorporate the four point approach within city/county government rather than have an outside organization.

•    Using the four point approach and keeping the balls in the air requires some kind of structure and on-going attention.

•    Planning is still a four letter word in WV.  Land use planning has not been adopted here.  The lack of planning has limited our smart growth.

•    Great, planned areas are tourism destinations.

•    Adapt existing structures to draw people to your city.

•    Cities and towns are service centers – banks, businesses, post office, library – from 9-5.  The question becomes, how do we keep people there after 5 P.M.?

•    Chain businesses are attracted to large populations.  Small towns and cities cannot compete.

•    Small towns with no money can readapt existing buildings – corner building or lot.  Put out an RFP through a newspaper ad for builders to submit a plan for developing that building/area.  There are great stories about the success of this strategy.  Stimulate private investment.

•    You have to invest in yourself before others will invest in you.  

•    Clean up is important when attracting investors.

•    Use concrete planters in downtown development, wooden barrels rot.  Seek private and corporate sponsors for town benches.  

•    It is important to look at traffic flow in downtowns.  Focus on wide sidewalks and slow traffic so that people are walking or looking as they drive slowly by.

•    American Institute of Architects (AIA) is an important resource as is Vandalia (WV development non-profit) when looking at downtown vision and development.

•    Underground utilities are an important aspect in addition to new lighting.

•    Allegheny Power and US Forestry Service have a grant program to plant dwarf trees under existing power lines to reduce the need for routine trimming and maintenance.

•    Mall development and interstates may seem as negative growth for downtown, but are really stimulators.

•    Relationships with stakeholders are very important.

•    Out of town landowners/property owners are problematic.

•    State of WV has a building code that can be adopted by municipalities.  It is laid out for you.  The state’s code is the national code. Enforcement is the job of municipalities.

•    Land use planning codes are helpful in getting absentee landowners to clean up their buildings.

•    We need the guidance of land use planners to get us started.  Maybe neighboring cities would be willing to share their planners for a day visit to nearby towns/counties.

•    Establish a relationship with the assessor.  When property owners advertise properties for a large amount of money and the assessment/tax amount is low, we have been successful in getting property owners to decrease their unrealistic asking prices for dilapidated structures.

•    Find people in your town in positions of authority, that are well respected to approach land owners to donate/sell or otherwise participate with the city/town.

•    We need to start with the town entrance to the town exit and be attractive.  We are beginning to draw tourists and must be ready to showcase our communities.  We have to ready when they get here.  We can’t have blighted structures.

•    We can’t sit around and say poor us, why did they get that opportunity and not us?  We will eventually reap the benefits of nearby growth if we are ready.

•    Make your downtown a destination with specialty shops.

•    Find out from where your visitors and shoppers are drawn.  Find out what the needs and interests are of those around you.

•    Identify what is unique to your town.  Cultivate it.

•    Café Cimino in Sutton, WV is an example of a jewel in an unusual location.  Don’t say it can’t be done in a small, undeveloped town with a BIG draw.

•    Many cities and towns are now functioning to promote real estate available in downtown areas.  They serve as a marketer and broker between potential buyers and owners.

•    Ask existing businesses in neighboring communities to relocate or establish a second location in your town.  Visit them.  Shop/Eat in their store/restaurant.  Invite them to see your buildings, ideas etc.