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Adirondack North Country Association
 

 
    Alliance Guiding Principles

Blueprint Process

Blueprint Points:
1. Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species

2. Acid Rain

3. Global Climate Change

4. Main Street Revitalization

5. Water, Sewer and Storm-water Infrastructure

6. Marketing and Entrepreneurial Development

7. High-Speed Telecommunications

8. Workforce/Community Housing

9. Transportation Infrastructure

10. Energy

11. Effective Governance and Policy Framework

12. Land Use Change

13. Property Taxes

14. Primary Healthcare Crisis

Appendix
Procedures and Schedule

Founding Sponsors

Alliance Core Team

July 2007 Forum Participant List

BLUEPRINT FOR THE BLUE LINE

THE COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE
FEBRUARY 2008

BLUEPRINT POINTS

4. MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION
RATIONALE: The unique historic character of the Adirondack Park’s 103 towns and villages presents outstanding opportunities to showcase their individual and special character through the revitalization of their main streets. Relatively sparse year-round populations maintain downtown business communities in hamlets which are limited in expansion potential. Achieving Main Street Revitalization requires customized technical assistance and tailored financial incentives that recognize the physical and economic environment that exists in these Adirondack communities. Maintenance of architectural history contributes to the region’s unique character and builds historic tourism, while providing 2nd and 3rd floor housing options which could help alleviate some of the critical community housing shortage.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
  • Provide technical assistance for communities to envision their future through planning, architectural design assessments, façade improvements, and support for small business entrepreneurs to market their communities as quality destinations.
  • Restructure state economic development tools to include the unique needs of small, rural businesses.
  • Convene groups of community based organizations, NGO’s and involved residents and municipal leaders to design grassroots revitalization initiatives.
  • Establish a “clearing house” office to coordinate federal and state initiatives to ensure true benefits to local communities.
  • Promote adaptive-reuse of existing main street historic properties and “in-fill” of vacant lots with complementary new uses. These may include a mix of commercial and residential uses, including businesses that cater to the growing senior population.
  • Create state and federal incentives to local governments and non-profit organizations to enhance and develop the public and cultural amenities, such as sidewalks, public restrooms, parks, trails, arts and cultural venues, and forms of public access for recreation and tourism that complement business development on Main Street and provide senior friendly amenities.

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