Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Mixed-use/Mixed-Income Development

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Connecticut Main Street Center, a statewide nonprofit corporation, is dedicated to economic and community development within the context of historic preservation. CMSC is committed to bringing Connecticut’s commercial districts back to life socially and economically by providing education and training, resources and technical assistance, and advocacy. MISSION STATEMENT

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center History of the Decline of Downtowns Until the 1950’s, America’s downtowns were the center of: - commerce - government - culture - entertainment

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Forces & Trends that Changed the Character of Downtowns: Advent of the federal highway system after WWII “June Cleaver went to work” Change in shopping patterns – downtown stores moved to the suburbs

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center The National Trust for Historic Preservation developed the first Pilot Main Street Program

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center The Main Street 4-Point Approach  Increases the: Civic value – through Organization Economic value – through Economic Restructuring Physical value – through Design Social value – through Promotion

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Partnerships Our Key

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Main Street is Community & Economic Development within the context of Historic Preservation.

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Benefits of a Main Street Program Supports one of your community’s largest employers and taxpayers: Downtown!

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center National Main Street Network

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center National Main Street Network

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center National Main Street Network

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center National Main Street Network

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center National Main Street Network

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center National Main Street Network Programs Launched To-Date: 1,877!!! National Main Street Network Programs Launched To Date: 1,877!!!

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Pendulum of Development is Swinging Downtown housing demand will increase Supply will not keep up with demand driving prices higher Affordable programs must be developed from the beginning

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Increasing Demand for Choices Losing young adults 83% of National Realtors’ survey listed “shorten commute time” as no. 1 criteria for choosing a home Growing population wants range of housing types and costs 67% of all US households do not have school-age children

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Downtown Housing Downtown residents spend 3 to 4 times what a downtown employees spends Residents inject 24/7 life Market segments vulnerable to affordability issue are targets for downtown living – young adults, seniors, artists

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Downtown Housing Current senior housing is isolated forcing people to drive for every need Seniors living downtown are healthier from walking more Close proximity to jobs, goods and services reduces traffic

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Mixed-use Development Importance of first floor retail Residential development – retail follows people Bringing upper floors to life Embodies best principles of community & economic development, smart growth and historic preservation

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Mixed-use Development Promotes density Multi-modal transportation options Developing w/existing infrastructure Developing integrated projects Need to put all the tools in place

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Barriers to Downtown Housing Mixed-use development is hard Land assembly is difficult Financing gap Local property owners have no redevelopment expertise Density is a dirty word

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Declare your Vision - Your Intent

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center Make the Right Thing Easy New and/or more friendly codes Historic tax credits for mixed uses Streamlined permitting process TA for mom & pop property owners Patient capital

Charting Your Course to a Vibrant Downtown Connecticut Main Street Center