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.
As one of the Four Points of the Main Street Approach, design is a crucial element of a successful Main Street district. Design supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual elements of downtown while capitalizing on the unique assets that set the commercial district apart. This guide from Main Street Alabama explores how design relates to urban planning, construction, storefronts, existing assets, public space, art, and building codes. If you want a better understand of the role of design on Main Streets, this guide is for you.
Published by Main Street Alabama.
Florence, South Carolina © Downtown Florence Main Street Program
Related Resources
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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.
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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.
Preserving African American Historic Places
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
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A Layperson’s Guide to Historic Preservation Law
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Toccoa, GA © Steph Maley
Guidelines on Flood Adaptation for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
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Main Street Facades
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Lansing, MI
Downtown Florence, South Carolina © True Light Photography
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