deCoding Downtown
This guide from Main Street Alabama identifies the ways that municipal regulations can be used to support downtown transformation efforts with an emphasis on zoning and building codes.
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Secure Your Spot!Google Earth is a global mapping platform that can help you visualize your Main Street. Google SketchUp is a 3D modeling software that allows users to create and manipulate 3D models of buildings, landscapes, and other objects. In this article, learn about Google Earth and Google SketchUp and see how these tools are facilitating community vision and historic preservation.
Published in Main Street Now Journal. Written by Kent Morrison.
Covington, KY
This guide from Main Street Alabama identifies the ways that municipal regulations can be used to support downtown transformation efforts with an emphasis on zoning and building codes.
This study, from the Preservation Green Lab at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, demonstrates the unique and valuable role that older, smaller buildings play in the development of sustainable cities.
This slideshow provides an introductory overview of the history of Main Street buildings, common architectural features, signage, and preservation guidelines. Published by Indiana Main Street.
Creating a welcoming and inclusive downtown means you need to understand the rich cultural histories of your historic assets. This guide from the National Trust for Historic Preservation explores strategies to preserve sites of African American history
This groundbreaking study concludes that building reuse almost always offers environmental savings over demolition and new construction.
As you work with property owners to develop historic structures for retail, housing, and other uses, it is important to understand the necessary fire safety upgrades you need to make. Handbook published by National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Washington, DC © Lori Feinman
This guide from the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides an overview of the laws you need to understand to support the historic buildings in your downtown district.
Toccoa, GA © Steph Maley
Main Street communities can use these guidelines to increase the flood resiliency of their historic downtown assets. Published by National Park Service.
This guide from Main Street Alabama explores how design relates to urban planning, construction, storefronts, existing assets, public space, art, and building codes.
It is important for Main Streets to understanding the architectural features of their historic assets. This hand-out provides an introductory overview of different façade elements like windows, transoms, columns, and awnings. Published by Nebraska Main Street Network.
National Trust for Historic Preservation experts share how non-profits can use tax credits to protect historic buildings and community assets.
A handbook on how urban design principles can be used to improve economic development, placemaking, safety, and community.
A look at the connection between the wellbeing of residents and the vitality of communities and explore the wide range of design elements and tools available that will lead to more active, accessible and connected Main Streets. Published in State of Main.
Explore the ways that the Sweet Auburn district in Atlanta, Georgia has used storytelling and history to preserve their culture and advance their downtown revitalization efforts. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
When the film industry made the switch from film to digital media, many small-town theaters struggled able to afford the switch. New Mexico MainStreet stepped in to work with local programs to save small-town theaters throughout the state. Published in Main Street Now Journal. Written by Elma Baco.
Learn about Sweet Auburn in Atlanta, which was just starting its journey back to prosperity, and H Street Main Street in DC, which has become a national success story. Published in Main Street Now Journal. Written by Teresa Lynch.
H Street, Washington DC
Learn how a Main Street turned a historic preservation problem into an real estate opportunity and learned how to acquire, rehab, and save historic buildings while bringing in critical income. Published in main Street Now Journal.
Guidelines to assist Main Streets as they include sustainability upgrades in their building rehabilitation projects.
Find out what can be done to ensure that our historic buildings withstand the test of time. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Local food system trends and a case study of Detroit’s historic Eastern Market and its efforts to change the city’s food system as well as revitalize adjacent neighborhoods.
Learn how the rehabilitation of a 100+ year old house in Jacksonville, Illinois, became the catalyst for the positive transformation of an entire district.
Learn about Iowa’s exciting sustainability initiative and the ways two small towns are becoming more green. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Hazard mitigation planning is an important process to protect your historic assets. This guide will take you through the processes of organizing your resources, assessing risks, developing your plan, and implementing your plan.
A copy of the NPS guidelines for historic building rehabilitation for use in downtown historic preservation.
Lansing, MI
Downtown Florence, South Carolina © True Light Photography
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