Southern North Main Street

Alex Dandridge

1

Overview Population~1,000 people

79% Black 21%white

Average Income ~$29,000

48% living in poverty

Disconnected character/ Identity Crisis

Assets of the community(Strengths)

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Perception

Negative Perception

▷ Dictated by crime

▷ Negative Assumptions

Crime Rate

▷ 48 per 1,000 people

▷ 25 per 1,000 people = City avg.Almost double that

3

Perception

4

Assets

5

Churches

Challenges

Negative perception

▷ North Main Hill

▷ Neapolis

▷ Theatre and Arts District

Crime

▷ Twice the City’s Average

Disconnect between corridor and

surrounding area

▷ Business do not serve both

populations

▷ Which population needs to be

focused on?

6

Opportunities

Community Conversations

▷ Continue reaching out

▷ Continue talking

▷ Business Association

Work together to promote the area

and help create a stronger identity

▷ Outreach of churches

Community event

▷ Cookout

▷ National Night Out

▷ Block Party

▷ Chalk Walk

7

Farmer’s Market

- Green Space

- Vacant lots and buildings

- Need for fresh food

- Emerging fresh food presence

Best Practice: Cooper/ Young Neighborhood ▷ Memphis, Tennessee

▷ Commercial District

- Abandoned

▷ Formation of a neighborhood

association

▷ Formation of a Business

association

- Beautification

▷ Cooper Young Festival

- Promotes region

8

North Main, Danville.

- Ready for an arts based movement

- Art events serve as a catalyst for community

revitalization

- Public Art

- Diverse Restaurants

- Arts based activities

Recommendations and Moving Forward

Increase Community Capacity

▷ Information/ learning center

▷ Finding funding for Salvation Army

- After school activities

- Music, Arts, Sports

- Adult Rehabilitation

Promote public spaces and engagement

▷ Green Spaces

▷ Playground

▷ Foot traffic

Connect businesses on North Main

▷ Business association

▷ Beautification - perception

▷ Art Based Community Development

9

Project

Asset Map of North Main Commercial District▷ Establish a sense of place

▷ Highlights area’s diversity and character

▷ Tool for mapping

▷ Capitalize on artistic movement

Displays: ▷ Green Spaces

▷ Institutional Assets

▷ Potential development/ Vacant buildings

▷ Trails

▷ Worsham Street Scenic Overlook

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Project

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