Main Street Waterbury

Main Street Board | Become A Volunteer | Contact Us | Committees

Main St. Waterbury is a grassroots, community organization for downtown revitalization and historic preservation. By improving the physical appearance of downtown Waterbury, promoting its architectural and cultural assets, organizing volunteer initiatives, sponsoring events, and fostering public and private partnerships, Main St. Waterbury is working to rejuvenate Waterbury's downtown district without sacrificing its character or heritage.

Carl Rosa, director of Main Street Waterbury (203-757-0701 x302), was hired in March 2004 as a full-time advocate for all of downtown Waterbury's interests. He coordinates the many volunteer efforts underway, helping the participants to realize their vision of a vibrant, diverse, pedestrian friendly city center-a true regional destination for everyone.

Main Street Waterbury is the eleventh and latest community in Connecticut to participate in the Main Street Program, a statewide, non-profit organization with ties to other Main Street programs nationwide. Utilizing the proven Main Street Four Point Method, which creates volunteer committees for Promotion, Design, Organization, and Economic Restructuring, the Main Street program addresses problems that afflict downtown historic districts from a variety of angles. If you would like to pitch in with these efforts and learn more about Main Street Waterbury and the Four Point Approach, please contact us, visit the Connecticut Main Street Center website at www.ctmainstreet.org, or read about the more than sixteen hundred community participants at www.nthp.org

The "Main Street" Four Point approach for downtown revitalization


ORGANIZATION:

	Promoting Main Street Waterbury as an organization Educating stakeholders on the Four Point approach to downtown Waterbury revitalization. Volunteer and Partnership Development
DESIGN:

	Improving Downtown Waterbury's image by enhancing its physical appearance. Providing good design advice Guiding growth and reshaping regulations. Creating incentives, providing tools, and targeting key projects. Educating our community about "good design" and why it is important.
PROMOTION:

	Identifying Downtown Waterbury's assets including people, buildings, heritage and institutions. Defining Downtown Waterbury's market niches. Creating new image campaigns, retail promotions, and special events to attract people to Downtown Waterbury.
ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING:

	Updating and keeping current all Downtown Waterbury building and business inventory databases. Strengthening existing businesses and recruiting new ones. Finding new, or more appropriate economic uses for under-performing or vacant buildings. Developing financial incentives and capital for building rehabilitation and business development.
The Eight Principles of the "MAIN STREET" approach to downtown revitalization.


COMPREHENSIVE:

	Addressing all areas in which downtown Waterbury revitalization can take place including design, promotion, economic restructuring and organization.

QUALITY:

	Reinforce Downtown Waterbury's special characteristics by reflecting a high level of "quality" in all aspects of the Main Street approach.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP:

	Combining the talents and support of both entities and bringing together the skills necessary to ensure successful Downtown Waterbury revitalization in a unified program.

CHANGING ATTITUDES:

	Demonstrating that positive change is taking place in Downtown Waterbury is key to changing the minds of skeptical investors and shoppers and central to a successful revitalization.

FOCUS ON EXISTING ASSETS:

	Creating a strong revitalization effort by focusing on the unique and special characteristics of Downtown Waterbury.

SELF-HELP:

	Complementing available grant opportunities by focusing on local initiative to ensure success of the Main Street approach.

INCREMENTAL:

	Relying on a series of initial small improvements to change attitudes and improve investment while gradually changing to larger improvements as the organization gains strength and becomes more efficient in mobilizing resources and volunteer help.

IMPLEMENTATION ORIENTATED:

	Identifying and prioritizing Downtown Waterbury issues then developing work plans and tasks that are carried out by a strong network of volunteer support.