East Main Planning
Project Description:
The East Main Downtown Plan aims to develop strategies to strengthen the economic vitality of the area, capitalize on future economic opportunities, and create a destination that is well connected with the surrounding residential areas and nearby Radford University.
Goals:
This project will help in many areas such as:
- Engaging with the business community, property owners, residents, and visitors.
- Understanding changing marketplace and identifying realistic business and real estate opportunities.
- Developing a business district revitalization strategy.
- Identifying opportunities for buildings, public infrastructure, and public spaces improvements to make East Main Downtown an attractive place for visitors and a location for business recruitment and retention.
- Preparing downtown streetscapes concepts and gathering inputs from the community
Why We Want You to Participate & How to Get Involved:
We want to capture your perspective on what is important to you as a business owner, someone who lives within the city, a student who lives or studies in Radford, and as visitors of the city. We value your voice and input. We invite everyone to share their ideas using the community engagement tools below.
Start engaging by dropping a pin on the map or posting a note on a community ideas board!
Project Description:
The East Main Downtown Plan aims to develop strategies to strengthen the economic vitality of the area, capitalize on future economic opportunities, and create a destination that is well connected with the surrounding residential areas and nearby Radford University.
Goals:
This project will help in many areas such as:
- Engaging with the business community, property owners, residents, and visitors.
- Understanding changing marketplace and identifying realistic business and real estate opportunities.
- Developing a business district revitalization strategy.
- Identifying opportunities for buildings, public infrastructure, and public spaces improvements to make East Main Downtown an attractive place for visitors and a location for business recruitment and retention.
- Preparing downtown streetscapes concepts and gathering inputs from the community
Why We Want You to Participate & How to Get Involved:
We want to capture your perspective on what is important to you as a business owner, someone who lives within the city, a student who lives or studies in Radford, and as visitors of the city. We value your voice and input. We invite everyone to share their ideas using the community engagement tools below.
Start engaging by dropping a pin on the map or posting a note on a community ideas board!
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Share What type of businesses and amenities do you want to see more of in East Main downtown? on Facebook Share What type of businesses and amenities do you want to see more of in East Main downtown? on Twitter Share What type of businesses and amenities do you want to see more of in East Main downtown? on Linkedin Email What type of businesses and amenities do you want to see more of in East Main downtown? link
What type of businesses and amenities do you want to see more of in East Main downtown?
about 3 years agoBy participating, you agree to the Community Guidelines and understand that your comment and screen name will be public.
Jnkellyalmost 3 years agoA Highrise Rooftop Bar with a prime location housing multiple local businesses. The land that has been leveled behind Sonic would be choice.
1 comment0Rob Gropmanabout 3 years agoMetered parking kiosks. Digital. This will help turn traffic for more in store visits and the city can pay for enhancements with collection
If installed before revitalization than it would be commonplace when bustling
0 comment2jbondurant03about 3 years agoConsider collaborative markets, improved signage for parking and business directories.
I'd love to see property owners consider using their storefront as a collaborative/market space. I have seen city "markets," where the interior of the building(s) are hollowed out and several shop spaces are designated within. (Consider https://www.themarkethuntington.com/ as an example.) This type of structure would reduce brick and mortar barriers for small and eclectic business owners - as well as boost the total number of shoppers browsing for all those participating. (Think festival/farmer's market, but inside and yearlong.) Additionally, as described in a separate comment below, I think improved parking signage and the addition of business directories (see uploaded image as example) at parking lots would be very helpful.
1 comment1Angieabout 3 years agoParking is an issue. I don't eat downtown because it's not convient to find parking with a family. Outdoor dining would be great.
0 comment1AJBabout 3 years agoThere needs to be connection between the down town area and the river front. Some type of path or walkway would be great.
0 comment8 -
Share What do you like most about the East Main Downtown area? on Facebook Share What do you like most about the East Main Downtown area? on Twitter Share What do you like most about the East Main Downtown area? on Linkedin Email What do you like most about the East Main Downtown area? link
What do you like most about the East Main Downtown area?
about 3 years agoBy participating, you agree to the Community Guidelines and understand that your comment and screen name will be public.
Joseph Burchamabout 3 years agoAttention to History
Think about it…what does downtown Radford offer that you can’t find in strip malls, town centers, and other shopping areas? The answer is: pride in preserving history. History is Radford’s greatest asset so you should really capitalize on that as a way of making East Main a cohesive whole, and for attracting visitors!
0 comment0cgaskinsabout 3 years agoThere is plenty of parking available on the street and in the lots!
0 comment0BHabout 3 years agoThe movie theater!
0 comment0 -
Share What future changes would help East Main Downtown improve visitor's experience? on Facebook Share What future changes would help East Main Downtown improve visitor's experience? on Twitter Share What future changes would help East Main Downtown improve visitor's experience? on Linkedin Email What future changes would help East Main Downtown improve visitor's experience? link
By participating, you agree to the Community Guidelines and understand that your comment and screen name will be public.
jbondurant03about 3 years agoImprove parking visibility and appearance, add crosswalk, and add business directory
The appearance of the lots across from the Theater could be greatly improved. A façade similar to that at the Farmer's Market lot would be good. Also, a more visible "public parking" sign or banner would advertise the space as available. Paid long-term/weekend parking could be an asset for weekend visitors, etc. Additionally, I would recommend adding a business directory/map at parking lots (similar to the type used at an outlet mall). I walked East Main today, and while there are a wide-variety of businesses present, I found it hard to assess what which were open/available. A directory would summarize this info and facilitate the shopping experience. Lastly, I think a crosswalk at the lots across from the theater-area would be beneficial.
0 comment0BKalmost 3 years agoCreate a Richmond (Radford) 300 Plan
Try to seek a strategic plan like the Richmond 300 Plan which recently just won the 2021 Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan from the American Planning Association (APA) (https://www.planning.org/awards/2021/excellence/richmond-300/). Here is the plan and how they went about implementing it. http://www2.richmondgov.com/marketingMasterPlan/
0 comment0TNalmost 3 years agoHold an annual cleanup day where larger trash items are removed by city sanitation workers from residential areas (after RU move-out)
0 comment0TNalmost 3 years agoProvide standardized trash receptacles to businesses and residences to prevent trash "overflow" that ends up strewn around adjacent property
Cleanup
0 comment0Joseph Burchamabout 3 years agoCapitalize on the History
Really promote East Main as a historic site. Radford already has a good attention to history, so capitalize on this strength! Draw more attention to the history. Some ways to do this: - Create brochures that describe the history of each building - Map out walking tours and create a brochure for it (example: a good walking tour could be made for Main St., Grove Ave., and university) - Guided, historic tours - Maybe have a small visitors’ center on East Main - Draw attention to historical nuggets, such as: 1. The last I checked, there is still a Leggett’s sign standing at the back of the old Leggett’s building 2. There is an old sign at the top of Sharkey’s that says “Jackson’s Harware” 3. Cuban Cigars sign 4. Elvis was in Radford (at the train station) in 1960 5. The steep staircases in Sharkey’s and the dental office building Old Town Alexandria is a good example for demonstrating this aspect of building up and marketing the history as a way of strengthening the economy. People go to Old Town Alexandria because they want to eat and shop in a historic area. I would say make the history more visible than it is now. A lot of Radford history is recorded, but people need to dig for it. Present more of the history as part of the presentation and marketing of East Main. The more attention to history, the better!
0 comment0
Custom
Quick Polls
Lifecycle
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February - March 2021
East Main Planning has finished this stage- Assess current conditions
- Identify stakeholders
- Community engagement round #1
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April - May 2021
East Main Planning has finished this stage- Preliminary assessment:
- parking inventory analysis
- building occupancy and condition inventory
- Meetings with local stakeholders
- Conceptual planning visualizations for aspiring ideas
- Preliminary assessment:
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June - August 2021
East Main Planning has finished this stage- Develop implementation strategies
- Preliminary design and technical assistance
- Community engagement round #2
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September 2021
East Main Planning has finished this stage- Present Final Summary Report
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Project Complete
East Main Planning is currently at this stage
Who's Listening
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Phone 540-267-3128 Email Kim.Repass@radfordva.gov -
Phone 540-267-3188 Email Melissa.Skelton@radfordva.gov -
Phone (540) 639-9313 x217 Email afancon@nrvrc.org