Montco 2040:
a shared vision
25
According to the national MainStreet Program, main streets can revitalize through
good design, strong organizations, effective promotion, and economic restructuring.
National studies of downtowns find that the most successful ones are managed
like a mall, are appropriate for retailers, meet the needs of their market, are safe,
have strong advocates, are anchored by important civic and cultural institutions,
are walkable, and have a unified, defined area. Above all, these places have strong
private and public leadership.
The county does not have a direct role in downtown revitalization but can support
revitalization efforts by helping to prepare revitalization plans, encouraging
businesses to locate in downtowns, supporting redevelopment planning efforts,
working with PennDOT to provide streetscaping and walkable transportation
improvements, working with SEPTA to improve public transportation, marketing
the county’s downtowns, connecting county trails with downtowns, and a host of
other supportive and collaborative efforts.
F.A.C.E.—Food, arts, culture, and entertainment form the backbone of most successful
downtown revitalization efforts. Communities should conduct market analyses and
establish appropriate market niches for their downtowns.
Public spaces should have multiple activities to appeal to a wide range of people.
Creating Great Community Places
For downtowns to be vibrant, their public spaces must be vibrant. These parks,
plazas, streets, sidewalks, community centers, and libraries are the heart and soul of
the community. The Project for Public Spaces published 11 key elements needed
to transform these spaces:
■■ The community is the expert
■■ Create a place, not a design
■■ Look for partners
■■ You can see a lot just by observing
■■ Have a vision
■■ Start with the petunias: lighter, quicker, cheaper
■■ Triangulate by putting different attractions together
■■ Be persistent despite naysayers
■■ Partners and activities should drive the design
■■ Money is not the issue
■■ You are never finished
