Main street: How it going any suggestion

Date: Oct 5, 2007

RE: Main street: How it going any suggestion

Date: Oct 6, 2007

We need to put professional people down town like doctors, lawyers, cpa etc. I think if we could get a couple of doctors to put their offices downtown with some type of incentive it would help. They usually don't go out of business either.

Date: Oct 6, 2007

Doctors and lawyers have the money to spend on their buildings, and they do rarely go out of business, but they don't generate any foot traffic other than walkers for downtown.

A place like the Dixie or now closed Beanery would benefit from a professional oriented downtown, but only during their office hours. At 5pm when they close (1pm for lawyers) their traffic would be over. What few downtown walkers or sightseers wouldn't be enough to keep them open.

And with the present buildings that I've seen, most professional offices would rather tear down the existing structures and rebuild. Most of the present buildings being used have a smell of mildew and stale air.

The old gas stations are the biggest eyesore. If the were open again as a gas station (which I think the city eliminated with zoning changes now) that would be fine. But, now, the slum lords that own them rent them for anything just to wait for someone to pay them a million bucks for their property. Especially the one on gordon and main, the red and white one. I heard the Hodge lady owns it, and wants $275k for it, now thats just a rumor.

The only one that looks decent, is the old one next to the old Jacks Market. They've fixed it up nice, and it fits in well. The one on 7th and main needs major work, and looks like a chop shop.

Estep griped about the Old Newberry's building with their worn and tattered awning. Maybe he could get Forcht to buy it, and donate it to the city, tear it down, and then we could put our new library there.

Date: Oct 6, 2007

The doctors and lawyers etc would provide stabiltiy to downtown instead of the empty buildings right now. We have enough eateries downtown. We now need to fill the buildings to create movement to town. Everybody goes to the doctor/dentist. What a good way to pull people to town. Then they will make arrangements to eat etc.

Date: Oct 6, 2007

Anonymous wrote:
Doctors and lawyers have the money to spend on their buildings, and they do rarely go out of business, but they don't generate any foot traffic other than walkers for downtown.

Isn't this what you want is foot traffic. Their are no real shops to bring them now. What else would bring them to town? The banks are not enough to pull people since they all have branches near shopping areas.

Date: Oct 6, 2007

You need a good mix, and some specialty retail is needed, such as antique shops, a newsstand or book store - Gibsons music is a good example. People come from all over southeast Kentucky to shop there. Mix in a few small eateries, a few professionmal offices on some of the upper floors, anf that would be a start, but it is a long process.

Date: Oct 6, 2007

You're right, and we need some of them to stay open past 5pm. Every one of the retail business's left downtown close at 5pm except the tattoo shop and the game shop. Please correct me it I'm wrong on that.

These issues were brought up in the previous Downtown forum meeting. There's another one in november, I hope it will be full.

corbinredhound18 · Veteran Member

What places to eat downtown? Hardees and the Depot? I like eating at the Depot for lunch, but you better planning on spending more than an hour. They usually only have one poor girl serving. Looks like Trademart has raised the rent and folks are moving out. Maybe we could get some of those businesses to move downtown. B&H was downtown years ago and now they are moving out by Legend Suzuki in Knox Co. Don't see anyone buying the Dixie... Looks like a ghost town isn't to far away.. However Octoberfest was great today
!!! Good work.

Date: Oct 7, 2007

Whos cronie are you! I can guess!

The places to eat are Depot, Hardees and the new resturant by Shea. I saw the Dixie open, has it closed? We need other foot traffic other than just resturants. Antique shops etc. I hear Mcburney is moving out of church.

The sad thing about the Octoberfest is that Corbin School are on fall break. Friday night was a disaster. As we rode thru town to attend ball game, we didn't see 10 people. Saturday was ok.

Date: Oct 7, 2007

I didn't know Shea's was open yet. And you're right about the Depot for lunch, very slow service.

We went down friday evening, and it was nice. Yes, sort of sparce, but it was a ball game night. We were there three times during the day saturday, and a fairly good crowd was there all day. The carriage rides seem to be enjoyed by many.

Also, this was the first year for the weekend schedule, so, for the first year, it did fine. I talked with a couple of the vendors,and they were whining about the lack of sales they were having. When I looked, I think the problem was her prices, not the event. We attend many craft fairs and such throuh the year in other areas, and she was way over the limit on her prices.

I was glad it was moved to the weekend, as the monday night thing was a little inconvinent. Most of the folks on the monday night thing just dropped in after work, on the way home, and then that was it. And that's fine. But, many of us didn't get to participate as we work out of town or get off later in the afternoon. I like the new format.

I heard about B&H moving out, but hadn't heard about McBurney's.

Date: Nov 3, 2007

I think the Main Street program is going great! The movies, art shows, history lectures have been fantastic and are making Corbin a so much better place to live. I wish we could have got the little toy plastic trains but I guess you can't have everything. Maybe in 20 or 30 years they will start working on fixing the look of downtown. It all takes time. I give the program a A+++++

Date: Nov 4, 2007

Anonymous wrote:
I think the Main Street program is going great! The movies, art shows, history lectures have been fantastic and are making Corbin a so much better place to live. I wish we could have got the little toy plastic trains but I guess you can't have everything. Maybe in 20 or 30 years they will start working on fixing the look of downtown. It all takes time. I give the program a A+++++

Hey, whatever happened to the plastic train idea? I liked it. You'd think if so many people wanted it there could have been some fundraising or something.

Date: Dec 8, 2007

Have most of the main street property owners been receptive to the idea of putting some money into their store fronts? When could this actually start happening?

LynnCamp68

Date: Dec 9, 2007

I know 3 of the property owners downtown, and they're willing to put money into their building, but, they want an overall plan to look at for downtown, and, they know it's coming because they've talked with Ms. Meyers.

Remember, she's not certified in her position yet, and she can't apply for grants and such until she is.

Date: Dec 9, 2007

I understand that she is not certified but surely that will come soon since the program is about a year old now. Has she talked to all of the property owners and got all of this lined up for the day she gets certified. Now is the time to get this done.

Date: Dec 10, 2007

There is no need to wait for certification and they try to come up with a plan.

What is the plan?

LynnCamp68

Date: Dec 10, 2007

She has a plan, call her and ask for a copy. I doubt she can post here as the MG size would most likley not fit. Mrs. Myers is very approachable and will give you the info your asking for, good question but give her the chance to show you her plan.

Read it and tell us what you think

Date: Dec 16, 2007

I attended a good Main Street meeting on Thursday Dec 13 at City Hall. Mrs Meyers did a good job. She sure has her hands fill with the Main Street Program. Many people were at the meeting on Thursday. One lady suggested that pictures be taken of each main street property and then the committee show the property owner just what kinds of improvements might be possible with their store front. This was the best idea that I heard at the meeting and I hope this is done soon. That is the kind of progress we need on Main Street and not just parades, festivals, banners, old cars, flower pots and such.