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| Isaac D. Kremer downtown. Credit: Danielle Finkelstein/Newsday |
Middlesboro, Kentucky,
October 31, 2012 - The Discover Downtown
Middlesboro Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has appointed
Isaac D. Kremer as DDM’s new Executive Director.
“We are happy to welcome Isaac to Middlesboro and to our organization,” said Keith Nagle, DDM President. “Isaac brings both unique skills and experience in economic development and historic preservation that will enhance DDM’s efforts in our community.”
Kremer is a nationally
recognized expert in the Main Street Approach® to commercial district
revitalization. This approach is comprehensive and incremental, emphasizing
grassroots action in four areas – Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic
Restructuring.
His education and
training includes a M.A. in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell
University, and a B.A. in Economics and Management from Albion College in
Albion, Michigan. Kremer has had additional training in historic preservation
tax credits and received the ‘How to Turn a Place Around’ training from the
Project for Public Spaces.
While Executive
Director of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association on Long Island between 2008
and 2012, Kremer helped to generate over $10 million of new investment in
Theodore Roosevelt’s home town. This resulted in over a dozen building
renovation projects. Most notable was the $2.5 million restoration of the ca.
1854 Octagon Hotel where Roosevelt campaigned for Governor.
Over 30 businesses
were opened during his tenure. These businesses had an impressive 90% retention
rate. “Key to our success was following the Main Street Approach® rooted in historic
preservation,” Kremer said. He continued, “There is no town of any size that
has experienced meaningful revitalization without including historic
preservation as part of a comprehensive strategy.”
Promotional events
were another area where Oyster Bay excelled. During his tenure Kremer worked
with dozens of volunteers to establish the Oyster Bay Farmer’s Market, the
Sundown Concert Series, the Oyster Flix Film series, a popular Dancing in the
Streets event, and numerous other activities that helped attract visitors to
the downtown area.
Kremer said of these activities,
“Once people saw something was happening downtown, they were more inclined to
visit and tell their friends to visit too. In turn, this encouraged a number of
businesses that decided to open downtown.”
Kremer oversaw an
innovative planning exercise in 2010 called Build a Better Block. Over a
two-day weekend one of the most neglected blocks in Oyster Bay was transformed
with pop-up stores in previously vacant buildings, a pop-up park, and a pilot
Farmer’s Market. Billy Joel participated in the two-day event and afterwards
decided to open his 20th Century Cycles in one of the pop-up stores.
This motorcycle showroom has since become a regional attraction.
Most recently Kremer
worked with the Heritage Society of Austin. In that capacity he updated their
over forty year old Preservation Awards program. He supported the Preservation,
Advocacy, and Education committees in their efforts. Kremer also publicly
advocated for preservation of numerous historic places in Austin.
Speaking of his priorities and objectives as Executive Director, Kremer stated “I am excited to build on the firm foundation that has already been established here in Middlesboro.” He continued, “In the coming years I look forward to overseeing an exciting period of new growth in what is one of the most unique and history-laden small towns in America.”
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Isaac Kremer.
Contact:
Isaac D. Kremer,
Executive Director
Discover Downtown
Middlesboro
(606) 248-6155
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