Meeting shines light on growth of Main Street

From the string lighting project on South Indiana Street (top) to the Christmas lights on a courthouse tree (left) to LED lights and greenery on downtown light poles for the holidays, Main Street Greencastle is trying to bring light to downtown Greencastle, literally and figuratively.

Courtesy and file photos

From six members two years ago to 43 paid members in 2017, the rebirth of Main Street Greencastle has been rather meteoric.

As downtown Greencastle has become a more vibrant scene for restaurants and entertainment, the organization — founded in the 1980s then all but inactive a few years ago — has risen from the ashes in keeping pace with downtown growth.

President Kristin Clary addressed this growth during the Main Street annual meeting Tuesday morning at Almost Home Restaurant.

Clary came to Greencastle in February 2016 as executive director of the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center, a time when Main Street was essentially Development Center executive assistant Tami Van Rensselaer, Almost Home owner Gail Smith and a few other dedicated volunteers organizing First Friday events.

Clary came on board with Main Street and immediately set about helping to organize the non-profit.

“I asked, ‘Where are the memberships?’” Clary recalled.

The membership drive started with George Velazquez as president, but his business soon took him out of town and Clary took over as president, with Jenny Sullivan of Eitel’s florist as vice president.

A concerted membership drive resulted in 43 paid members in 2017, and with that a wider base of volunteers and funding.

It is also showing in the turnout at the annual meeting.

“Last year we were at one small table,” Clary told the crowd of about 30. “This year we’re way above that.”

Clary’s goal for her second (and final) year as president is 50 paid members. There were 16 for the year as of Tuesday morning, with “probably a half dozen more” adding to the list during the meeting.

“So we’re well on our way to that goal of 50,” Clary said.

Annual dues are $40 and go to Main Street efforts including First Fridays, holiday events and the lighting projects Main Street has initiated in recent years.

“You just know that you are in a group of people who are working together to get things done downtown,” Clary said.

For more information on Main Street memberships, becoming an event sponsor or becoming a corporate sponsor, contact Clary or Van Rensselaer at the Development Center at 653-2474.

Besides membership growth, Clary also discussed the growth of the organization’s programs, most notably three lighting projects around the downtown area.

One was partnering with Duke Energy to light the evergreen tree on the northwest portion of the courthouse lawn in time for Christmas 2016. The lights remained in the tree for last Christmas and they’ll be there again when the holiday season rolls around this year.

Another notable addition was the installation of string lighting over the block of Indiana Street between Jackson and Walnut. Brought about by a partnership between DePauw University, the city and Main Street, the lights have become a staple for visitors to businesses on that block.

Finally, there was the effort to decorate light poles around downtown with greenery and LED lights for the Christmas season. That effort brought in nearly $4,200 in community sponsorships.

These kinds of efforts have been noticed by outsiders and newcomers to the community, such as new Greencastle City Planner Scott Zimmerman.

As the co-keynote speaker for Tuesday’s event, Zimmerman told how he and his wife made their way over from Richmond when he interviewed for the job and then spent the evening in downtown Greencastle before heading back.

He noted that the lighting of downtown businesses makes the area safer for pedestrians, highlights the architecture and can also “create some drama” for the area.

“This becomes a destination,” Zimmerman said.

Noting that his background includes not only planning experience, but also work with Indiana Landmarks and time as president of Richmond’s version of Main Street, Zimmerman said he can be a partner for organizations such as Main Street, not just someone who enforces city code.

Still, that is the main function of his job with the city.

“I’m available through the city to learn what your code issues are,” Zimmerman said.

The Greencastle Planning and Zoning Department is available at 653-7719.