Main Street Madison puts public input into plans for downtown development
MADISON – Exciting times are ahead for downtown Madison thanks to a newly formed organization. Main Street Madison presented preliminary plans for downtown development before city leaders and the community at city hall on Thursday after accepting input from the public last Tuesday.
A bakery, farmers market, playground, boutique hotel, community theater, and the maximizing of existing unused space were among the improvements community members hoped to see come to downtown Madison. The Main Street Madison resource committee included these items in preliminary plans.
Additionally, resource committee members proposed more murals, new buildings along Martin Street, special events, such as a Girls Day Out and Gilmore Girls Firefly Festival, and a scavenger hunt.
As a newly designated Main Street Alabama community, Main Street Madison is working with the statewide organization to develop a strategic plan aimed at revitalizing its downtown district. A resource team was in Madison last week to hear from the community, business owners and city leaders, along with touring the downtown area to provide an assessment and help develop a plan.
Jason Fondren, Planning Studio Leader with the KPS Group, and a design specialist for Main Street, proposed a reimagined gateway to downtown on Sullivan Street.
“I would put this on the underwhelming side, and it’s because design decisions have been made in the past that were not made together. They were made incrementally,” said Fondren of the current state of the gateway. “Some of the ways this could be made better: It would be great to see that property on the east side of the street developed with a building that helps to create a positive transition to alert people, ‘Hey, you’re coming into a different part of Madison that we really care about and love.’” Fondren also recommended streetscaping through sidewalks, pavers, and landscaping.
Main Street Alabama Assistant State Coordinator Trisha Black and Historic Oxford Main Street Executive Director Hunter Gentry also suggested improved aesthetics. Black and Gentry encouraged business owners and Main Street Madison to work with city departments to increase holiday decorations for the fall and Christmas seasons.
“We’re going to make it prettier, we’re going to strengthen existing businesses, and attract new businesses,” Madison Street Madison Executive Director Jen Delessio said. “We’re going to promote it. We’re going to work with all our amazing team members. If you build it, they won’t come, you need events too. And you need all of the things, all of those work together so we’re going to be going after all of them.”
Delessio says she plans to work closely with her partners at the Madison Chamber, Madison Visionary Partners, Arts Alliance, Rotary, and Madison Street Festival.
Main Street Madison is already taking steps to promote downtown. The organization is currently hosting voting for Madison’s “Pup Mayor”, inviting residents to nominate and vote for their canines as an honorary mayor. See page 6A.
A special “Pup Rally” will be held Thursday, Oct. 30, along Main Street in downtown Madison. It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. The rally will include a pup parade of candidates, vendors and extended shopping at downtown businesses.
Pup owners are also encouraged to hold individual rallies to solicit votes.
On Nov. 13, there will be a special election and inauguration night “Pawty” with a fun pet parade and food trucks. It will be held at Homeplace Park.
The Main Street program is based on a fourpoint approach that fosters the success of current business owners and the expansion of the business community through economic vitality, promotion, design, and organization.
Visit mainstreetmadison. org for more information and to get involved.
