SALINE: Momentum builds for Saline's 'Route 12 to Main Street' campaign (with video)

Saline's "Route 12 to Main Street" campaign is picking up momentum as members of the Saline Historic Downtown Alliance are applying to have the city become a Main Street community through the Michigan Main Street Center.

Since making the decision to pursue the distinction last October, the SHDA's efforts have been embraced by local businesses, residents, city government and high school students who view it as a way to preserve and provide improvements to the heart of the city for years to come.

Main Street is a national movement that has taken off in more than 2,000 communities across the United States to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood business districts. In Michigan, the program was established in 2003 and is housed within the Michigan State Housing Development Authority's Downtown and Community Service division. One prominent example of a Main Street community is Old Town in Lansing, which was recently named one of the 2011 Great American Main Street Programs in the Nation.



The SHDA's president, Cindy Czubko, hopes that the enthusiasm that is growing around the campaign is a precursor for the actual building that will take place if Saline is one of up to three cities chosen in 2012 to receive a select level distinction. Czubko, a principal with Beckett & Raeder Inc. in Ann Arbor, which specializes in landscape architecture, planning, engineering and environmental services, has had previous experience with the National Main Street Center through her own career. Today, she sees it as a prime opportunity to strengthen her hometown community well into the future.

"Main Street is the tool to build a very strong downtown organization for years to come. It something that is sustainable and can be there forever as many of us go off and do other things," Czubko said "We want to have people waiting in line to get into these places. That we just don't have enough space in downtown - that there are no vacancies and people are waiting in line. That would be an ultimate benchmark for the community."

Saline first became involved with the Michigan Main Street program in 2010 as an associate level member in which community members received training on the organization's "Four-Point Approach" which includes promotion, design, economic restructuring and organization.

Czubko said if chosen as a select level member, Saline would receive five years of intense technical training, resources and heightened marketing visibility that would amount to $200,000 in staff time. Selection would also require a full time manager, which is why the campaign is soliciting pledges along with letters of recommendation for the application that is due Dec. 2.

"From the public, we need letters of support that they support the effort to be a Main Street community because they love downtown and downtown is a place to gather with their friends and family to make memories," Czubko said. "Also, we need pledges to show that we can support a full-time manager ... and fund the activities of the board."

One place where the SHDA has been successful in receiving volunteer support is from Saline High School. Czubko visited the school earlier this year to explain the program. As a result, students Julie Hogikyan and Tyler Sheets are leading the charge to get youth involved with the campaign by collecting letters and pledges. Hogikyan and Sheets also will receive community service hours for their volunteer efforts through the school's Capstone Experience course. Continued...

• 1
• 2
• See Full Story

"I've grown up in Saline and I really appreciate the community and think we have a really nice community," Sheets said. "I think it requires a lot of input from the people who are going to be living here later on to make it the community we want to be in."

Hogikyan added: "We also thought this is something the kids would want to get involved in to make the community a more fun place to be."

Another place where the SHDA has received backing is from the Saline Downtown Merchants' Association. John Olsen, president of the Merchants' Association and owner of the Spotted Dog Winery in downtown Saline, said he is happy to help the SHDA garner support.

"We are all in it for the betterment of the community. That is the goal of everyone," Olsen said. "We look at this as more far-reaching than our merchants' association. Ultimately, we think it will benefit all of us."

City government is also behind the pursuit to heighten the vibrancy of its historic downtown. Saline's Mayor Gretchen Driskell encourages community members to come together to build a strong volunteer base for the campaign.

"We do have a downtown that is active ... but we feel this will take our downtown to the next level. We are ready as a community to do that," Driskell said. "There are great opportunities to get involved. It's really a fun group of volunteers that want to make our community better and stronger. It's always fun getting involved in something that is bigger than yourself."

Anyone interested in getting involved are encouraged to contact Czubko at cindyczubko@gmail.com. Donations may be made and additional information can be found at www.downtownsaline.org.

• 1
• 2
• See Full Story

• 1
• 2
• 3
• See Full Story

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• See Full Story

Saline's "Route 12 to Main Street" campaign is picking up momentum as members of the Saline Historic Downtown Alliance are applying to have the city become a Main Street community through the Michigan Main Street Center.

Since making the decision to pursue the distinction last October, the SHDA's efforts have been embraced by local businesses, residents, city government and high school students who view it as a way to preserve and provide improvements to the heart of the city for years to come.

Main Street is a national movement that has taken off in more than 2,000 communities across the United States to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood business districts. In Michigan, the program was established in 2003 and is housed within the Michigan State Housing Development Authority's Downtown and Community Service division. One prominent example of a Main Street community is Old Town in Lansing, which was recently named one of the 2011 Great American Main Street Programs in the Nation.



The SHDA's president, Cindy Czubko, hopes that the enthusiasm that is growing around the campaign is a precursor for the actual building that will take place if Saline is one of up to three cities chosen in 2012 to receive a select level distinction. Czubko, a principal with Beckett & Raeder Inc. in Ann Arbor, which specializes in landscape architecture, planning, engineering and environmental services, has had previous experience with the National Main Street Center through her own career. Today, she sees it as a prime opportunity to strengthen her hometown community well into the future.

"Main Street is the tool to build a very strong downtown organization for years to come. It something that is sustainable and can be there forever as many of us go off and do other things," Czubko said "We want to have people waiting in line to get into these places. That we just don't have enough space in downtown - that there are no vacancies and people are waiting in line. That would be an ultimate benchmark for the community."

Saline first became involved with the Michigan Main Street program in 2010 as an associate level member in which community members received training on the organization's "Four-Point Approach" which includes promotion, design, economic restructuring and organization.

Czubko said if chosen as a select level member, Saline would receive five years of intense technical training, resources and heightened marketing visibility that would amount to $200,000 in staff time. Selection would also require a full time manager, which is why the campaign is soliciting pledges along with letters of recommendation for the application that is due Dec. 2.

"From the public, we need letters of support that they support the effort to be a Main Street community because they love downtown and downtown is a place to gather with their friends and family to make memories," Czubko said. "Also, we need pledges to show that we can support a full-time manager ... and fund the activities of the board."

One place where the SHDA has been successful in receiving volunteer support is from Saline High School. Czubko visited the school earlier this year to explain the program. As a result, students Julie Hogikyan and Tyler Sheets are leading the charge to get youth involved with the campaign by collecting letters and pledges. Hogikyan and Sheets also will receive community service hours for their volunteer efforts through the school's Capstone Experience course.

"I've grown up in Saline and I really appreciate the community and think we have a really nice community," Sheets said. "I think it requires a lot of input from the people who are going to be living here later on to make it the community we want to be in."

Hogikyan added: "We also thought this is something the kids would want to get involved in to make the community a more fun place to be."

Another place where the SHDA has received backing is from the Saline Downtown Merchants' Association. John Olsen, president of the Merchants' Association and owner of the Spotted Dog Winery in downtown Saline, said he is happy to help the SHDA garner support.

"We are all in it for the betterment of the community. That is the goal of everyone," Olsen said. "We look at this as more far-reaching than our merchants' association. Ultimately, we think it will benefit all of us."

City government is also behind the pursuit to heighten the vibrancy of its historic downtown. Saline's Mayor Gretchen Driskell encourages community members to come together to build a strong volunteer base for the campaign.

"We do have a downtown that is active ... but we feel this will take our downtown to the next level. We are ready as a community to do that," Driskell said. "There are great opportunities to get involved. It's really a fun group of volunteers that want to make our community better and stronger. It's always fun getting involved in something that is bigger than yourself."

Anyone interested in getting involved are encouraged to contact Czubko at cindyczubko@gmail.com. Donations may be made and additional information can be found at www.downtownsaline.org.

• Return to Paging Mode