Edenton, North Carolina © Kyle Little
In cities big and small across the United States, concerns about the supply and cost of housing are widespread. Main Street communities are no exception. Housing challenges are clearly on the minds of Main Street practitioners.
With the generous support of the 1772 Foundation, Main Street America’s Research team launched the “At Home on Main Street” project in Spring 2022, a four-part housing research initiative that aims to provide action-oriented recommendations and support the network in strengthening Main Streets through thoughtful housing development.
“Nearly half of Americans say the availability of affordable housing is a major problem in their local community.”
The second major release associated with this effort, At Home on Main Street: A Housing Guidebook for Local Leaders, is a practical and easily digestible report containing practical recommendations for identifying housing opportunities, keeping inventory of buildings and vacant spaces, making sense of housing finance, understanding the common code and regulatory challenges encountered with housing development and vacant space activation, and more. The Guidebook incorporates the stories and expertise of Main Street Coordinators, local directors, and partners who have experience with housing and is intended for an audience of beginners who have limited experience in housing development.
In this article, Patrice Frey explores how barriers to small-scale real estate development deals stymie growth and wealth building. She explains why building small matters, the problems faced by small-scale developers, opportunities for direct investment and greenhouse gas reduction, and more.
Watch this webinar to learn about the Building Opportunities on Main Street (BOOMS) Tracker's functionality, see a live demonstration of how quick and easy it is to enter data, and get a preview for what's next for this powerful tool made for local leaders.
Designed for local leaders, this user-friendly property inventory tool allows users to easily gather, store, and showcase information about buildings and lots in their districts. The Building Opportunities on Main Street Tracker (BOOMS) Tracker is available to all designated Main Street districts in our network.
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.
As part of our "At Home on Main Street" project, this tool is designed to help local leaders assess strengths and challenges related to housing in their downtowns or commercial corridors. Take the quiz to receive target resources to support housing efforts in your community.
Macon, Georgia.
Use this resource to guide your efforts to established or re-draw the boundaries of your downtown or neighborhood commercial district. Published by Texas Main Street Program.
Use this tool to help you understand property characteristics and history, ownership, environmental conditions, and reuse planning to make more informed decisions. Published by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Watch this webinar to learn how to use incubation spaces, fabrication labs, entrepreneurial training classes, adult pitch funding activities, investment groups, and alternative finance enhancements to drive downtown growth.
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
As part of our "At Home on Main Street" project, this report explores nationwide research on housing stock, affordability, and accessibility in historic downtowns and neighborhoods.
This guide from the Washington Main Street Program provides a primer than Main Street programs can use as they approach property development and real estate management.
Marion, Iowa. © Eagle View Partners
National Trust for Historic Preservation experts share how non-profits can use tax credits to protect historic buildings and community assets.
Advice for downtown managers to resolve issues with absentee property owners to ensure a vibrant and sustainable downtown landscape. Published by Indiana Main Street.
An article from State of Main describing the need for place-led economic development that produces strong economic outcomes for communities.
Learn why small-scale development projects and incremental improvements are the key to creating vibrant local economies and distinctive places that will thrive well into the future. Published in State of Main.
Independent makers and manufacturers are helping to fuel a renaissance in downtowns and commercial districts, harnessing renewed interest in locally produced materials and experiential shopping. Published in State of Main.
Learn how local funding solutions like investment clubs and community-driven fundraising can kickstart downtown redevelopment.- Published in Main Street Now Journal.
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.
Revised zoning codes and updated land-use plans give communities the ability to shape their future while protecting their past. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Filling vacant retail space is a persistent challenge. Every commercial district has a few stubborn vacancies that detract from its visual appeal and reduce long-term economic vitality. In this article, Errin Welty explains how to assess these spaces and work with resistant landlords.
Marshalltown, IA
Find out what can be done to ensure that our historic buildings withstand the test of time. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
See how a group of citizens in Goldsboro, North Carolina, devised a plan to reduce residential vacancies in three downtown neighborhoods.
To reduce storefront vacancies, the Main Street program in Cambridge, Maryland, created the Holiday Pop-Up Project, which gave two entrepreneurs the chance to test out their retail concepts rent-free for two months.
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.
