Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City, to visit Kentucky
The year 2014 marks the beginning of a new approach to thinking about historic preservation, and your opportunity to learn from exciting speakers and dynamic programming. For the first time, the Kentucky Heritage Council and Preservation Kentucky are partnering to present the Kentucky Preservation Series - a new initiative of quarterly workshops designed for broad appeal, and to give you the information you need to help care for your historic home or building and work more effectively in your own community. To kick this off, we proudly announce:
Creating Life on City Streets: Walkability
Including a lecture and workshop with Jeff Speck, author of the new book "Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time"
These keynote sessions coincide with the annual winter meeting of the Kentucky Main Street Program, in Frankfort from Jan. 15-17. New this year, the public is invited to join local Main Street managers, board members, elected officials and others to learn about current issues in community revitalization. Topics will be of broad interest to communities interested in strategies to preserve and utilize their historic downtown buildings, capitalize on authentic assets, promote heritage tourism and create positive energy that attracts residents and visitors.
Jeff Speck appearance schedule (sponsored through the support of KHC board member Nana Lampton):
Lecture and book signing - 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 16
Grand Theatre, St. Clair Mall, Frankfort
$10 general admission
Workshop - 9 to 11 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 17
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 200 Mero Street, Frankfort
$25 general admission
Click here for the complete conference schedule. Full conference registration is $100 per person and includes educational sessions, Jeff Speck lecture and workshop, a reception hosted by Preservation Kentucky, and the premiere of the film "Kentucky Governor's Mansion: A Century of Reflection," at the Grand Theatre. Single-day registration is $35.
Download the registration form and return with payment to the Kentucky Heritage Council, and watch for more details at www.heritage.ky.gov
Given today's reality of tight budgets and limited travel time, this series will take place in lieu of the long-running biennial statewide historic preservation conference, which many of you have attended over the years. The goal of this new series is to present relevant preservation-related topics and hands-on training in strategic locations across the Commonwealth, working in concert with partner organizations at the local level, in venues accessible to a wide range of constituents.
Administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council, the Kentucky Main Street Program is presenting the conference in partnership with the nonprofit organization Friends of Kentucky Main Street.
An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet The Kentucky Heritage Council / State Historic Preservation Office is responsible for the identification, protection and preservation of prehistoric resources and historic buildings, sites and cultural resources throughout the Commonwealth, in partnership with other state and federal agencies, local communities and interested citizens. This mission is integral to making communities more livable and has a far-ranging impact on issues as diverse as economic development, heritage tourism, jobs creation, affordable housing, community revitalization, environmental conservation and quality of life.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Christmas Celebrations Coming to Downtown Middlesborough
Santa's House coming together nicely at 1927 Cumberland Ave. |
Middlesborough, Kentucky - Signs of the Christmas holiday
are everywhere in downtown Middlesboro. The big tree is up downtown, Santa has
been given a new house on Fountain Square, and over 50 entries are getting
ready for the Christmas Parade this Saturday at 3pm.
Volunteers from Discover Downtown Middlesboro have once
again taken the lead organizing not only the parade, but also decorations to
give the downtown a festive look and feel. Keith Nagle, DDM President said, “We
are happy to invite people downtown this time of year to enjoy a one-of-a kind
community celebration.”
A Tree Lighting is being planned for Friday, December 6 at
6pm in Fountain Square. In case of rain the location will be at Santa’s House
at 1927 Cumberland Ave. Featured people and groups will include Kentucky
Senator Brandon Smith, local singer Jade Robertson,and Middlesboro Elementary School Principal Dr.
Tony Maxwell. Area choirs, churches, and Ms. Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival
Queen Brooke Gibbs will also participate.
The Middlesboro Christmas Parade will start promptly at 3pm
on Saturday, December 7. The theme of the parade this year is “An Old Fashioned
Christmas.” People are encouraged to line the parade route along Cumberland Ave
between 15th and 21st Street. Bleachers will be on
Fountain Square and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A storefront at 1927 Cumberland Ave has been converted into
Santa’s House for kids and families to visit with Santa Claus. Visitation will
be open immediately after the parade on December 7, and again on December 13,
14, 20, and 21 starting at 5pm each night. Building owner Mack Yoakum
generously donated the space for Santa’s House.
A student from LMU painting the window at JRS Restaurant Corp. on Cumberland Ave. |
Building on a successful window painting project last year,
this year faculty and students from Lincoln Memorial University and the
Middlesboro High School Key Club have painted holiday scenes on storefront
windows. Be sure to come out and see the festive scenes that they create.
Sponsors for the Christmas celebration this year include Commercial Bank, Community
Trust Bank, First State Financial, Home Federal Bank, Danny J Luttrell Insurance, and Southeast Eye
Associates. Generous contributions have also been made by Ike Slusher, Dr.
Kenneth Smith, Larry Brooks, and Steve Obermann. Local businesses that have
made in-kind donations include Jim Brown Supply providing the lift to decorate
the tree, JR Hoe & Sons giving the trailer for the stage, and East End
Pawn, Mikel’s Pharmacy, Three States Printing, and Walmart.
Susannah Cadle with Antique & Modern Jewelry putting finishing touches on her Christmas display. |
Assisting in our fundraising efforts is the Fund for the
Arts based in Louisville and their Power2Give website. Every dollar that local
people give will be matched by an additional dollar from LG&E and KU
Energy. Donna Smith, Organization Committee Chair said “We encourage folks to
make a donation today to make this Christmas a special one for everyone
involved.”
A link to
the Power2Give website is here:
Contact:
Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director
Discover Downtown Middlesboro
(606) 248-6155
###
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Appalachian Transition Fellowship Fellows Webinar, Mon, 12/16, 5-6pm
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Discover Downtown Middlesboro Thanks LMU's ENACTUS for work on Better Block Event
Pictured is Discover Downtown Middlesboro Executive Director Isaac Kremer presenting ENACTUS Chief Business Advisory Board and Alumni Affairs Officer Dustin Fowler with a check in recognition of the student organization's contributions to the Build A Better Block event.
This project was funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission Flex-E-Grant through the Kentucky Department for Local Government and administered by Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College. Flex-E-Grant funds are made available to distressed ARC counties in Kentucky for projects that are designed to build capacity in these communities.
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or e-mail atadmissions@lmunet.edu.
Friday, November 1, 2013
McConnell Helps Middlesboro Secure National Park Service Assistance
For Immediate Release, Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Contacts: Robert Steurer, Stephanie Penn 202-224-8288
McConnell Helps Middlesboro Secure National Park Service Assistance
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced today the National Park Service agreed to provide technical assistance for Middlesboro, Kentucky, which will be used to help improve infrastructure to the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.
Earlier this year, Senator McConnell was contacted by Middlesboro officials asking him to assist with their grant application with the National Parks Service. In July, Senator McConnell contacted the Southeast Program Manager of the National Park Service on behalf of his constituents to encourage a “fair review” of their grant proposal.
On October 23, the National Park Service informed Isaac Kremer, Executive Director of Discover Downtown Middlesboro, that their application was approved and they would receive assistance for Fiscal Year 2014 for this community-based initiative.
“This is great news for the people of Middlesboro,” Senator McConnell said. “The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is one of Kentucky’s top tourist attractions, and this effort will help attract visitors and highlight the historical, cultural and natural resources of the area.”
Isaac Kremer, Executive Director of Discover Downtown Middlesboro, said, "Senator McConnell has championed job creation, downtown revitalization, and economic development throughout Kentucky and our area of Appalachian Kentucky in particular. We are strengthened and encouraged through his support of our community revitalization goals that include development of a Cumberland Gap to Middlesboro trail."
####
Sunday, October 27, 2013
DDM Announces 5-Year Vision for Downtown Middlesborough
Middlesborough, Kentucky - After an intensive seven-month community planning process, Discover Downtown Middlesboro announced their plan today for Downtown Middlesborough. The announcement was made as the culminating statement of the innovative Better Block Middlesborough project that put many of the strategic planning initiatives into practice.
The following 5-year vision for the downtown was announced:
To read the plan in its entirety, please visit the DDM website and go to the Planning section. The link follows:
http://downtownmiddlesboro.org/planning.htm.
#####
The following 5-year vision for the downtown was announced:
"Beautifully restored historic buildings and clean and attractive public spaces have made Downtown Middlesborough a leading regional and statewide attraction. A world class hiking, biking, and horse trail system draws people downtown and connects with Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. A wide variety of shops and restaurants provide daily necessities and a quick and inexpensive meal, to higher-end goods, services, and fine dining all at locally-owned businesses. People travel from miles around to be part of the fun and excitement downtown has to provide."Among the concrete actions that DDM will take to realize this vision are to create 1,000 jobs; establish a Bell County Endowed Community Fund to encourage community philanthropy and provide support for community revitalization and economic development. Restoration of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Home and other buildings throughout the downtown will be undertaken. New staff and volunteers will be added to take responsibility of initiatives and to help move the revitalization effort forward.
To read the plan in its entirety, please visit the DDM website and go to the Planning section. The link follows:
http://downtownmiddlesboro.org/planning.htm.
#####
Saturday, October 26, 2013
30 Ideas in 30 Days: #1 Think Incrementally
30 Ideas in 30 Days
Now that we've covered our 30 ideas, it's time to get out and Build a Better Block!
So you want to change your neighborhood? Ok. Just go out and do it. Worried about finances, zoning, rules, and regulations getting in the way? No problem. Get together a bunch of citizens and just make good things happen. The results will speak for themselves. This is increasingly becoming the ethos of a whole new set of related movements seeking to enrich places all over the planet.
Jay Walljasper in All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons documented a number of trends reshaping the economy, environment, the internet, democracy, and our communities in a positive way. Walljasper begins by defining the commons as what we share. More precisely he says:
Commons: What we share. Creations of both nature and society that belong to all of us equally and should be maintained for future generations.Several principles for protecting shared resources have been advanced by Elinor Ostrom, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Economics. These include:
- Define clear group boundaries.
- Match rules governing use of common goods to local needs and conditions.
- Ensure that those affected by the rules can participate in modifying the rules.
- Make sure the rule-making rights of community members are respected by outside authorities.
- Develop a system, carried out by community members, for monitoring members' behavior.
- Use graduated sanctions for rule violators.
- Provide accessible, low-cost means for dispute resolution.
- Build responsibility for governing the common resource in nested tiers from the lowest level up to the entire interconnected system.
What makes this moment unique is that many forces are coming together all at once. Technology is providing unprecedented opportunities and tools to bring people together through social networking and crowd technologies. Great ideas now have the potential to spread far more rapidly than ever before. A movement started in Dallas is now having an impact in Appalachian Kentucky. At what other time would something like this ever been possible? Finally, the focus on the commons and all that we share is a concept with the power to bring people together all over the world around a similar theme - how do we make our place on the world a little bit better?
To close, never again should huge budgets or big plans get in the way of what can be done right now. For communities willing to think in $500 increments and about what can be accomplished in two weeks or less, the opportunity to bring transformative change for our communities is always present. We have the Orton Family Foundation and the CommunityMatters initiative to thank for sharing this important lesson with us. Power2Give and the Humana Foundation helped us to get that much further through their generous support. None of this would have ever been possible without the initial support from the Appalachian Regional Commission by way of a Flex-E Grant administered by the Brushy Fork Institute at Berea College.
Taken together Middlesborough has proven what many places are beginning to find - that citizen action is the surest and only way to bring about positive change and to generate true and lasting success for our community or any community for that matter. We hope our work plants the seed for long term change in our community and inspires people all over the world to take similar action for the betterment of their towns.
Better Block Middlesborough was held from October 25-27, 2013, in Middlesborough, Kentucky. To help with planning for future events like this, please consider making a donation today!
Managing the Event
- #1: Think Incrementally
- #2: Build a Better Block
- #3: Encourage Public Participation
- #4: Temporary to Permanent
- #5: Pre-Vitalization
- #6: Leverage the Power of the Crowd
- #7: Raise the Funds You'll Need
- #8: The Strength of Main Street
- #9: Sidewalk Stencils and Signs
- #10: Blackmail Yourself
Welcoming People
- #11 The Power of 10
- #12 Walk [Your City]
- #13 Mobile Vendors
- #14 Food Trucks and Carts
- #15 Plant Trees
- #16 Cover Up Blank Walls
- #17 Free Library
- #18 Pop-up Parks
- #19 Pop-Up Shops
- #20 Temporary Improvements Encourage Historic Preservation Planning
Friday, October 25, 2013
30 Ideas in 30 Days: #2 Build a Better Block
30 Ideas in 30 Days
Now that we've covered our 30 ideas, it's time to get out and Build a Better Block!
Better Block is a movement that seeks to promote livable streets and neighborhood vitality through short-term interventions. Started by Go Oak Cliff in the neighborhood with the same name in Dallas, since their start in 2010 the event has been repeated throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Benefits include helping to fill previously vacant or underutilized space. Streets are reclaimed as places for people and not just for automobiles. Entrepreneurs are given a chance to get their start through popups and new jobs and businesses are frequently created as a result. Most significantly, the power to bring about transformation is put directly into the hands of citizens. This has the power to transform the way people relate to place.
One of the best qualities of Better Block is the open source nature of it. What one community has done frequently serves as inspiration for another. Efforts have been made to use social media - especially Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to share results. FriendlyCorps based in Grand Rapids created a brilliant sign system that will be used in Middlesborough. Oak Cliff continues to have a big sway on all projects that have followed.
This TED Talk by Better Block Co-Founder Jason Roberts is inspiring, fun, and gives you some background - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntwqVDzdqAU
The Better Block site has more of the thinking behind it - http://betterblock.org/
There's been 40 Better Blocks in the US and several internationally. The best and most up-to-date list we have follows.
Upcoming Better Block Events
- La Alma Action (Denver, CO)
- Better Block Montgomery (Montgomery, AL)
- Better Block Clovelly (Sydney, Australia)
- Better Block Middlesborough (Middlesboro, KY)
Past Better Block Events
- Better Block BR (Baton Rouge, LA)
- Better Block OKC (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Better Block Brownsville (Brownsville, TX)
- Better Block Indy (Indianapolis, IN)
- Better Block re:State (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Eagle Street Rising (North Adams, MA)
- Better Block St. Joe (St. Joseph, MO)
- Better Block Five Points (Denver, CO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_Ev9qK17w
- Better Block Ft. Lauderdale (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
- Better Block Jefferson Park (Denver, CO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA5tMyuHXoo
- Better Block Race Street Fort Worth (Fort Worth, TX)
- Geelong Better Block (Australia)
- Better Block Houston (Houston, TX)
- Alamo Plaza (San Antonio, TX)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC5EFcD5aCM
- Oyster Bay (Long Island, NY)
http://vimeo.com/12755331
Main Street Story of the Week, http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/main-street-news/story-of-the-week/2011/111012/48x48x48-an-intervention-in.html
Street Plans Collaborative, http://www.streetplans.org/documents/48x48x48%20Description.pdf
- St. Paul Better Block (St. Paul, MN)
- Better Block #1 (Dallas, TX)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18bfh--Tq6M
- A New Face for Old Broad (Memphis, TN)
- Norfolk Better Block (Norfolk, VA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnrYE9hi3rM
- Better Block - Mt. Rainier (Mt. Rainier, MD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmzLWNPlys
- Pop Up Pearl Better Block (Cleveland, OH)
- Steer FW (Fort Worth, TX)
- Better Block Detroit (Detroit, MI)
- Better Block Glass Street (Chattanooga, TN)
- Better Block Kansas City (Kansas City, MO)
- Better Block Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Better Block Middlesborough was held from October 25-27, 2013, in Middlesborough, Kentucky. To help with planning for future events like this, please consider making a donation today!
Managing the Event
- #1: Think Incrementally
- #2: Build a Better Block
- #3: Encourage Public Participation
- #4: Temporary to Permanent
- #5: Pre-Vitalization
- #6: Leverage the Power of the Crowd
- #7: Raise the Funds You'll Need
- #8: The Strength of Main Street
- #9: Sidewalk Stencils and Signs
- #10: Blackmail Yourself
Welcoming People
- #11 The Power of 10
- #12 Walk [Your City]
- #13 Mobile Vendors
- #14 Food Trucks and Carts
- #15 Plant Trees
- #16 Cover Up Blank Walls
- #17 Free Library
- #18 Pop-up Parks
- #19 Pop-Up Shops
- #20 Temporary Improvements Encourage Historic Preservation Planning
Thursday, October 24, 2013
30 Ideas in 30 Days: #3 Encourage Public Participation
30 Ideas in 30 Days
Getting people to show up is key to success with your Better Block event.
Turnout is key for a successful Better Block event. Credit: Team Better Block. |
Communities with an
existing organizational and civic infrastructure to support the work that goes
into planning a Better Block event are at a competitive advantage to those
without. Having a strong knowledge of who the important people and
organizations in a community is key.
In the first half of the
twentieth century community planning was dominated by large government and institutional
actors. In the second half of the century the role of the citizen increased,
with a higher value placed on gathering community input. This impulse was
powerfully expressed through the emergence of the modern historic preservation
movement that was grassroots and community based by its nature. More recently
the Tactical Urbanism and Better Block movements have sought to place the power
to act and transform places into the hands of citizens.
Direct action by
citizens yields multiple benefits. Community participation in the planning and
execution of the events instills a level of buy-in and support. Once the event
is over the responsibility for stewardship rests with the community too. The
community or the public is then responsible for moving forward with ideas
generated after the event.
Rallying the community
and building their support for the event is key. The first step in doing so is
identifying leaders. This need not necessarily be elected officials, though
their support certainly helps. Instead it is the building owners, business owners,
and civic leaders who have the ability to get results when asked. These people
will form the inner circle of a project team.
Then it is important to
branch out from leaders to the general public to find volunteers who will be responsible
for carrying out the work of the event. Social media tools like Facebook and
Twitter are a powerful way to connect with these people in your community.
Consistently putting your message out about what you are trying to accomplish
has the potential to attract many people who may have never had contact with
your organization, or never thought of themselves as change agents.
Public meetings are
valuable for identifying shared goals. This also helps to bring out the best
ideas a community has for itself, while downplaying those that do not help to
realize shared goals.
Finally, one of the keys
to success for any Better Block is having a great turnout during the event
itself. Using any and every communication tool at your disposal will help to
make this happen. If properly organized, the excitement people have for the
event will cause them to enlist the support of their family, co-workers and
friends. Providing opportunities for businesses or organizations to sign up
their members or employees en masse helps to build up large numbers. Canvassing
and one-on-one outreach helps. Finally, answering “yes” to anyone who has an
interest in participating guarantees you’ll have a good sized crowd.
Ultimately the value and
power of encouraging public participation is that this display of community
support can be used to attract the attention of policy makers, investors,
foundations, and others who want to support places with a strong civic
infrastructure. So, in a way, the efforts to mobilize support for community
projects initiates a virtuous cycle that attracts further support to realize
the very visions the community defines for itself.
For more information, please see:
- “Public Participation in Preservation Planning,” National Park Service, http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/pad/plancompan/PublicPartic
- Beyond Temporary, Fernanda Sotelo, 2012, http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/item/ac:162140
This banner on our Facebook page encouraged people to RSVP for a Facebook event. Credit: Discover Downtown Middlesboro. |
Better Block Middlesborough was held from October 25-27, 2013, in Middlesborough, Kentucky. To help with planning for future events like this, please consider making a donation today!
Managing the Event
- #1: Think Incrementally
- #2: Build a Better Block
- #3: Encourage Public Participation
- #4: Temporary to Permanent
- #5: Pre-Vitalization
- #6: Leverage the Power of the Crowd
- #7: Raise the Funds You'll Need
- #8: The Strength of Main Street
- #9: Sidewalk Stencils and Signs
- #10: Blackmail Yourself
Welcoming People
- #11 The Power of 10
- #12 Walk [Your City]
- #13 Mobile Vendors
- #14 Food Trucks and Carts
- #15 Plant Trees
- #16 Cover Up Blank Walls
- #17 Free Library
- #18 Pop-up Parks
- #19 Pop-Up Shops
- #20 Temporary Improvements Encourage Historic Preservation Planning
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
30 Ideas in 30 Days: #4 Temporary to Permanent
30 Ideas in 30 Days
Now we will discuss the extended impact of a Better Block event, i.e. what happens once the event is done.
Here are just a few ideas of how the improvements made during better block may lead to permanent changes in the project area.
- Pop-up stores become actual stores.
- Transportation planning process leads to upgrades and improvements.
- Pop-up cafes become actual cafes.
- Mobile vendors and food trucks and carts become bricks-and-mortar businesses.
- Preservation work begun leads to comprehensive rehabilitation projects.
A commitment to evaluating the success of the event is essential. SurveyMonkey is a valuable tool to gather input from participants, stakeholders, and the public-at-large.
It is also important to make clear to the public a commitment to continuing change. This can be done before, during, and certainly after the event.
To close, if Better Block is viewed as just a freestanding event, then it is a lot of fun. If it is viewed as the initiation of a process that leads to continuous improvement, then it becomes a force to change places for the better now and into the future.
Better Block Middlesborough was held from October 25-27, 2013, in Middlesborough, Kentucky. To help with planning for future events like this, please consider making a donation today!
Managing the Event
- #1: Think Incrementally
- #2: Build a Better Block
- #3: Encourage Public Participation
- #4: Temporary to Permanent
- #5: Pre-Vitalization
- #6: Leverage the Power of the Crowd
- #7: Raise the Funds You'll Need
- #8: The Strength of Main Street
- #9: Sidewalk Stencils and Signs
- #10: Blackmail Yourself
Welcoming People
- #11 The Power of 10
- #12 Walk [Your City]
- #13 Mobile Vendors
- #14 Food Trucks and Carts
- #15 Plant Trees
- #16 Cover Up Blank Walls
- #17 Free Library
- #18 Pop-up Parks
- #19 Pop-Up Shops
- #20 Temporary Improvements Encourage Historic Preservation Planning
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)