June 2008

Investing in What We Were Given

When you think of Manhattan, images of the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and Grand Central Station immediately come to mind. Thoughts of Chicago instantly bring visions of the Sears Tower, Navy Pier and the Miracle Mile. These landmark buildings and developments contribute to the sense of place in these communities. Real estate assets fundamentally define place in a downtown commercial district and become the physical elements that frame a person’s experience.

We often base many of our decisions on experience. It was because of this very reason why stores began to pull away from downtowns decades ago for the enclosed convenient environment of shopping malls. Most regional malls are built to the same physical scale as Main Street but opted to be wrapped in marble and glass. In recent years, shopping malls have begun to struggle in much the same way that downtowns struggled decades ago. The amazing thing that was realized through the shopping mall experience was that people preferred the open-air atmosphere to that of the enclosed, contained environment. This has led to another era in the shopping world.

The new format of shopping centers has a remarkably recognizable layout: multi-use buildings, distinctive architecture, greenspace, curbside parking, and open-air environment. Lifestyle Centers, as this new breed have been coined, are intended to mimic downtowns of our yesteryear. If you have ever paid a visit to Zona Rosa or the Legends of Village West, both of the Kansas City area, you can easily visualize of what I am speaking.

The reason why these new shopping developments are good news for downtowns is that it shows that people desire what most communities have right at their fingertips without the highway drive. Moreover, healthy communities have another important element and a distinctive advantage over most malls and lifestyle centers – the social element. With all the desired elements of their central location, convenient curbside design, and personable atmosphere, Main Street districts are becoming increasingly more attractive to retailers. This creates a win-win situation in small to mid-size communities. They want to reach our market and we have the environment and architecture they need.

As time goes on, many things in life come full circle. Downtowns are one of them. They were created as not only a necessity for bolstering new communities but also as a precursor for the greatness of the community to come. As we revitalize our downtown, we adapt to the changing times and trends but stay true to what was given to us; a beautiful downtown that will withstand the test of time. Our downtown defines out community and gives it a sense of place. It is up to us to see that Chillicothe is defined as a unique, inviting community where people want to visit, live, work and play for many decades to come.

To learn more about the Main Street Program, both locally and nationally, visit the following sites: www.mainstreetchillicothemo.com and www.mainstreet.org.