Main Street Q&A: Downtown progress continues
Q: What is happening with the downtown master plan project?
The Main Street Board, city officials, and the Citizen’s Advisory Committee met recently with John Grossman and Paul Roszak of EG&G. Paul and John will return in February with more detailed drawings and will meet with city and county officials as well as the Citizen’s Advisory Committee. Within a few weeks, the revised drawings will be ready to display at the city and county offices so Warren County residents can see the details of what will change downtown.
Q: What downtown events have occurred in the past month?
A: The Junior Auxiliary once again sponsored its huge annual project, Christmas in the Park, and we would like to congratulate them on a job well done. The Junior Auxiliary has many service projects that it works on throughout the year. We commend them for doing so much for our community.
After Christmas in the Park ended, The Collection Caf? sponsored a dinner and entertainment. Thanks to Rachel Killebrew and her staff for preparing a wonderful dinner and to Carol Neal, of Highland Rim Music, for organizing the entertainment. It was an extremely cold night but both programs and food were great.
The Christmas parade was sponsored by Leadership Warren, which always does a great job on its many projects. We look forward to Leadership Warren’s parades, movie nights, etc., downtown, as well as its other endeavors throughout the year.
Nick Kuhn, our urban forester, volunteered to take Christmas trees to businesses downtown for the holiday season to add extra holiday cheer. We appreciate Nick and his hard work to distribute 40 trees. The businesses were very appreciative. Several were so excited they called to see when their tree would arrive as they had already been planning their decorations.
Q: What projects are the Main Street Committees working on now?
A: The Design Committee, under the direction of Rachel Killebrew, has volunteered to spearhead our $125,000 fund-raising for the commemorative design elements that are to be sold for historic downtown McMinnville in the year 2003. This campaign should be under way by February 2003. Thanks to the Design Committee for taking on such a big project.
The Economic Restructuring Committee recently finished up its Downtown Market Survey. The results were very interesting for those wanting to start or improve a business downtown. Rating of downtown’s strengths and weaknesses, ratings for prospective downtown retail businesses, ratings of physical aspects of downtown, etc. were all collected. If you would like an electronic copy of the survey, contact Main Street at: mainstmcminn@blomand.net.
Both the Promotion and Organization committees will be attending training specific for their areas in January. Thanks to those individuals who are willing to take their time to go. Training makes a big difference in the motivation and knowledge needed. Thanks to the Main Street board for seeing that training is a priority for Main Street.
Speaking of the Main Street Board, I would like to personally thank those who served on the Board this year: Keith Smartt, president; Rodney Boyd, president elect; Rachel Killebrew, treasurer; Kym Jones, secretary; and board members at large: Sally Brock, Jeff Golden, Deborah Good, Chuck Haston, Fred Hoover, Rickey Jones, Mark Latka, Bill Lively, Jo Lunsford, John Newby, Mary Robbins and Larry Ross. New board members for the upcoming year include: Bryan Denton, Lea Chrisawn, Emily Haston, Pam Pallas, and Diane Stanley. We look forward to working with them for the next several years.
Q: Are there any new businesses downtown?
A: The California Doggery (great hot dogs!) has opened in December. Make it a point to visit the stand, owned and operated by Bryan and Wendy Curran, which will be located on the gazebo side of the square.
There is also a new sports store, Quick Sellers, that has opened on Spring Street. I visited the store this week and saw some unique items that would be appreciated especially by UT and Titans fans!