Mission MAIN STREET:

Meeting details what's to come in downtown revitalization project

  • By: John Baker  
  • Published: 7/17/2009 8:30:05 AM
More than 30 local business owners, property owners, residents and city officials listened intently as the city’s Economic Development Manager laid out the Main Street Program plan Thursday morning.

Catherine Comer presented a slide show and handout presentation of an ambitious plan for the city’s new program that focuses on downtown revitalization and overall business health.

As she laid out the plan, Comer pointed to support from the city, which has committed $10,000 for staff time, materials and promotion, and the Urban Renewal Agency, which has committed $150,000 to help fund the Main Street program which includes hiring a full-time staff person, organizing committees, developing a business recruitment planGot a News Tip?, promoting projects such as the façade improvement program and working to accomplish the goals of the Canby Downtown Master Plan.

“The Canby approach is a little new,” said Comer. “The city of Canby and the Urban Renewal Agency have taken a great leap in forming a Main Street Program this year and hiring a full-time Main Street coordinator. Typically, it’s a three-legged approach with business owners, property owners and the city contributing, and although the City is taking the lead, it will take efforts of all involved to make this program a success.”

She reiterated that before embarking on the Main Street Program, she and city officials sat down with the Urban Renewal District lawyers and mapped out what they could and could not do with urban renewal dollars. One of the things they can’t do is fund downtown promotions and events.

“Urban renewal money is for projects such as infrastructure and we follow closely our Urban Renewal District Plan,” she told the audience.

Comer also presented a work plan for the next year and said Main Street will have an aggressive first year. Committees will be formed soon, the job description for the Main Street coordinator is being written now and the hope is to have the coordinator on board by the first of September.

The hour-long presentation went through the Main Street Four Point Approach™ (organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring), emphasized the national, state and county resources to draw from and other aspects of the program.

For more information on the Main Street Program, contact Comer at 503-266-7001.
 

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P.J. from Canby
7/17/2009 10:31:56 AM

This was a very well-written article. It explained the Main Street concept clearly. I love City Hall coverage and these types of stories keep me coming back to the Canby Herald!
 
J.R. from Oak Grove
7/24/2009 9:47:10 PM

I've been saying this for ten years, ever since I served on the city budget committee: If you really want to promote the downtown, then stop looking for ways to attract big businesses on the outskirts. It's insane to think you can bring in Fred Meyer and Walgreens and Kentucky Fried Chicken and still expect people to shop downtown. The city council (at least ten years ago) seems to live in this dreamworld in which bringing national chains to the edges of town will somehow make more people shop downtown. Tell that to Mangus and Gary's and Graham's. It makes no sense. If those running the city really want to promote the downtown, then promote the downtown. Stop with the emphasis on the outskirts.
 
S.T. from Canby
9/5/2009 5:14:08 PM

Kentucky Fried chicken, Fred Meyer and Walgreens were not enticed - they came to Canby on their own on the basis of demographics and customer numbers. I saw nothing to indicate the CIty organization "recruited" these businessess. American Steele is a different story. The Theatre (downtown) likewise, different story. Both were recruited. I believe the City (and taxpayer money) is positioned to know the difference. And - it DOES make a difference how the "outskirts" develop. Both areas are important amd om this case? The "outskirts" development you refer to actually PAID for (through tax increment gains) the theatre and downtown efforts discussed in this column. $$ had to come from somewhere, that' s how urban renewal works. Just FYI. Since you haven't been here for awhile.

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