Design
Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets — such as historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets — is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere, created through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping, conveys a positive visual message about the commercial district and what it has to offer. Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, and long-term planning.
Typical design committee activities include:
Design Education activities to help committee members and others familiarize themselves with the district’s unique character and assets. This could include updating the building inventory, civic club presentations, rehab “library” development.
Design Training to improve the design awareness and skills of committee members, property owners, and business people. This could include “storefront design”, appropriate signage workshops and design guideline booklets.
Design Assistance: Recommendations – offer building and property owner’s conceptual plans and written guidelines on improvements to facades, signs, and displays. This could include storefront renovation renderings (be sure these are done correctly, following approved design guidelines), design sketches and specifications for signs, keep a scrapbook of great design ideas, have individual visits with store/building owners. *work with Alabama Main Street to provide design assistance.
Design Assistance: Resources – provide information on appropriate materials and contractors for building storefront improvements. This could include having a rehab resource library, contractor referral list, as well as paint and awning samples kit.
Design Assistance: Planning – collaborate with city government on future public improvements. This could include a storefront analysis by your design team or parking lot improvement plans.
More advanced activities could include plans for guiding future real estate development and construction of public improvements, such as new sidewalks, lighting, benches, etc. Is there a downtown element in the city comprehensive plan? What are plans for public improvement projects in the downtown district? Is there a minimum maintenance ordinance for the downtown district in place to preserve your buildings?
Design is about more than buildings. It is anything that can be related to visually – window displays, signage, downtown landscaping & cleanliness and holiday decorations.
Brandon Brown - Chair
Chris Stangel
Josh Johnston
Bobby Dolan
Owen Lilly
Shaler Roberts
Barbara Broach
Kaye Hillis
Martha Sneed
Kevin Jangaard