DESIGN COMMITTEE

This element of the Main Street Approach focuses on improving the physical environment by renovating buildings, constructing compatible new buildings, improving signs and merchandise displays, creating attractive and usable public spaces and ensuring that planning and zoning regulations support Main Street revitalization.

The Design Committee and/or its project teams play a key role in shaping the physical image of Main Street as a place attractive to shoppers, investors, business owners, and visitors. To succeed this committee must persuade business owners, building owners, and civic leaders to adopt a specific approach for physical improvements to buildings, businesses, and public improvements. Specifically:

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 •  Educate others about good design by enhancing the image of each business as well as that of the district;

 •  Provide good design advice by encouraging quality improvements to private properties and public spaces;

 •  Plan Main Street’s development by guiding future growth and shaping regulations;

 •  Motivate others to make changes by creating incentives and targeting key projects.

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Basic

 •  Develop and market improvement incentives and assistance including:

   -  Working with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to list the downtown district on the National Register of Historic Places and/or the Virginia Landmarks Register  

  -  Design assistance through VMS consultant

  -  Evaluate existing physical assets – buildings, streets, public signs, parking lots and open spaces

  -  Inventory conditions of physical environment

  -  Façade improvements

Intermediate

 •  Develop and market improvement incentives and assistance including:

  -  Loan programs

  -  Grant programs

  -  Design Assistance through VMS services

  -  Explore a formalized design review process with custom design guidelines

  -  Develop district identification signs

  -  Create a detailed and visually appealing map of downtown

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 •  Photograph downtown extensively; including before, during and after photos of rehabilitation work and promotional events; Streetscape improvements

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 •  Mid-size rehabilitation projects

Advanced

 •  Conduct a traffic study

 •  Conduct a parking study (if appropriate)

 •  Continue façade improvements

 •  Large rehabilitation projects

 •  New development

 •  Infill development

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