The shrimp was tasty, but ...
I sat at last week's 3rd Friday Shrimp Boil wolfing down food, trying not to freeze, and I couldn't help but think the event was the beginning of the end.
Granted, at an event like this, it's hard to tell how many people are actually present. While I was there, 75 is a good guess. That's just not enough to keep alive an event designed to draw people downtown.
Main Street Rogers sponsors 3rd Friday. The organization's board, also last week, failed to name a permanent executive director. Dana Mather, who had been interim director, was named acting director.
Yeah, I know. Sounds like semantics to me, too.
The board's reason, so they said, is because they -- like many of us -- are awaiting the outcome of Gateway Planning Group's study for the city about the future of downtown.
What? They think Gateway would recommend pulling the plug on Main Street?
I don't know that the Gateway staff would be so blunt, but that could certainly be suggested.
Still, the Gateway report is months and months from completion. It's unfair to leave Mather hanging, and odd that the Main Street board would take action that seems to lessen their importance in the community.
Not that their failure to appoint a permanent executive is the only thing making Main Street seem less necessary.
There will only be three 3rd Friday events this year -- not enough to get people in the habit of coming downtown. This month's draw was the shrimp boil, unless you had children or a special reason to watch kids entertain. No vendors, no band. Some businesses were open, although I overheard one group of employees talk about closing at 7 p.m. -- after it had been advertised stores would be open until 8. That's bad business.
In fairness, Main Street has done a lot toward making the organization obsolete -- if you accept that their reason for being is preservation. The historic downtown has been preserved and a Historic District Commission is in place to make sure buildings remain intact.
The awful old awnings have been ripped down, thanks to Main Street -- now it would be nice if some building owners would repair where the awnings were.
The area has been beautified, although the addition of public art remains an unsettled question.
Frisco Festival, also sponsored by Main Street, is one of the last remaining community festivals in the region, and remains a success.
So what's next for Main Street?
Gateway representatives were in town a couple of weeks ago talking to stakeholders. That's what consultants call people who have an interest in whatever they are doing a report on -- in this case it's downtown.
I was included in one of those meetings, and there was a short discussion of Main Street. Very short. Still, the impression I took away from the session was that people think more needs to be done with economic development, events, even encouraging people to live downtown.
I mentioned my belief that Rogers needs a Daniel Hintz. Hintz, who is working on the Downtown Initiative for the Northwest Arkansas Council, was once the man at Downtown Bentonville during the boom years.
Someone noted he or she didn't want Rogers to emulate downtown Bentonville -- Rogers downtown should be unique.
I don't think anyone would argue that, but learning from Bentonville's success should cut down the time it takes downtown Rogers to be a success.
Those attending my session seemed to think downtown should be aimed at young professionals. I advocate for a downtown that draws young professionals, young families, empty nesters and retirees. Focusing on any one group is foolish. It takes diversity to bring success to an area.
They also wanted more and better-kept green spaces, a downtown more friendly to walking and biking and -- horrors! -- maybe less parking.
I suggested that was the dumbest thing I had ever heard of -- after all you want people to come downtown, and a lot of them are going to choose to drive, not bike or walk. The last thing we want downtown Rogers to do is end up like Fayetteville, which is battling parking issues on Dickson Street -- and the solutions are very expensive.
Main Street's heyday may indeed be over in Rogers. I hope, however, they choose to go out with a bang, not a whimper, and celebrate the downtown they helped create.
Commentary on 05/22/2014