Saving Main Street

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By Linda Ellingsworth

A standing-room-only crowd of some 80 people packed the Pember Library on Monday night to discuss ways that Granville’s Main Street could reinvent itself for the 21st century.

The brainstorming session was the first in a series of discussions on the topic that will be presented by the Granville Chamber of Commerce and the Pember Library.

“Since the Pember is an institution of life-long learning, we thought it would be a good venue to share ideas,” said Mary King, president of the library’s board of trustees, who served as moderator for the discussion.

“Let’s dream and dream big – what would a viable Main Street look like to you?” King asked the crowd.

Those in attendance were not shy about taking the challenge. Their passion for envisioning a better Main Street elicited some interesting ideas.

Lindsay Schieffelin suggested that downtown needs a signature event or destination. Among his ideas were a virtual hunting and shooting range, a “top-notch” retirement community, and a wellness center on the order of Canyon Ranch.

“If we mobilize the leadership of the commercial and civic sectors we could make a pitch,” he said.

John Norton
John Norton addresses the crowd.

Pat Imbimbo, who owns 31 Main Street, said he was thinking of creating a year-round indoor farmers’ market.

“I’ve got a big building; I’m open to ideas,” he commented. “I don’t want to quit.”

Other ideas that emerged included a microbrewery, an “art in the park” type event, public restrooms, an art gallery in which local artists could exhibit, a small movie theater, sledding hills created from slate piles, and a river walk along the Mettowee River, similar to San Antonio’s Riverwalk.

But the suggestions that most energized the crowd centered on planning and strategy.

“What do we want as an identity?” Cyd Groff asked. “Are we a big box community or a small town?”

She lamented the fact that Granville does not have an economic development person, and no economic development plan.

“Without that, you languish,” she said.

Kathy Juckett, CEO of Telescope Casual Furniture, emphasized the importance of giving incentives for businesses to locate here.

“In 1920, there was a Granville Development Corporation,” she told the crowd. “They brought Telescope to Granville. It was a good deal for my family to move here – and I’m glad they did.”

John Freed’s proposal prompted a wave of agreement among those in attendance.

“First impressions count,” he said. “You won’t get new businesses unless you have curb appeal.”

He suggested that the entire façade of Main Street needed to be done over.

“You want to make it look like a place you’d want to open a business,” he commented. “If we build it, they will come.”

John Norton reminded the crowd that Main Street was once a vibrant place to be.

“I’ve been coming to Main Street for 92 years now,” he said, noting his father opened a store there in 1914. “Main Street was viable because people worked hard at it.”

Even a Hebron resident was on hand to show support and give ideas.

“We have a lot going for us,” said Laura McDermott. “We have to stay positive.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, King asked those in attendance to fill out an evaluation form for a grant affiliated with the Main Street project. At future meetings, she said, they will take some of the ideas presented on Monday and break into small groups to further discuss them.

Anyone who was unable to make the meeting but who would still like to present some ideas for Main Street can mail them to the Pember Library and Museum, 33 West Main St., Granville, and label the envelope “Main Street Project.”