The process for changing Main Street boundaries (as opposed to things like boundaries of overlay districts or National Register districts) is relatively simple but requires approval from our office. From our perspective, the Main Street district boundaries identifies both yours AND our area of work (specially design). It should in a way be a visual description of what you and your community identify as the historic downtown. Your boundaries were originally defined in your Main Street application. We have access to all of those original documents and have most of your existing boundaries on file here at our office.
We recommend that you be able to identify these points before expanding or decreasing the boundaries and that it is a strategic, group (board) discussion prior to change –
Remembering that Main Street is a commercial historic revitalization program – meaning that while there is understanding in a wider context that contiguous residential is important to the vitality of the Main Street program area it should not include large amounts of residential. Also, for that same reason, it should not include large swaths of vacant land where ONLY infill is possible unless there are historic structures and/or places around it, nor should it include purely manufacturing areas (unless historic like grain silos, warehouses etc. that have commercial potential)
This is very important --What is the specific reason for wanting to change the boundaries? It’s OK to do it; just have a good reason that everybody agrees on. Where is there strong potential for reinvestment (low-hanging fruit/significant row of buildings/block with strong potential-friendly ownership etc.? Is this in the area being considered?
Has zoning changed and is this driving the consideration?
Is the change being considered so that a broader area has to comply with preservation regulations? (this is a good reason to adjust)
If you have any other districts like National Register, overlay district etc. are the boundaries different from the Main Street program area? (this is also a good reason to adjust) Refer to Sarah O’Brien’s previous email on the listserv about how Nacogdoches changed theirs so that both National Register and Main Street district are now the same.
If you adjust the program area, how many buildings will be in the new district? That is good to know as it will help put into perspective the manageability factor.
Make sure the new district is manageable for a one-person staff supported by volunteers – what services does your program locally provide to those in the Main Street district? Can you provide it on a bigger scale? If not, and this might be a reason not to change until you reach your second level of maturity (post three years). The first three years is generally spent on more core-district activities so that you can have visible progress; to expand too quickly might make it more difficult to see progress.
If your district was created by ordinance or resolution during the application process, then it will have to be changed via the same method, depending on your local protocol. We have your historic records on file here and can get that information for you.
Are you at a point where your program’s core work in the core area has been done? Are you at a level of program maturity to be able to as an organization handle a larger area?
We need to be included in the discussion and have a say in the final decision as your program area also guides design work in our office.