Barracks Row Earns Award

[Guest DC Governement]

Mayor Anthony A. Williams today congratulated the Barracks Row Main Street for winning the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2005 Great American Main Street Award for its successful revitalization of the 8th Street, SE, commercial area. The award was made today at the Opening Plenary Session of the National Main Street Conference in Baltimore.

 

"I am proud of the work that the Barracks Row volunteers, merchants and staff have put into making 8th Street, SE, one of the most desirable areas in the city for shopping and dining," said Mayor Williams. "We hope to replicate this success story in retail corridors throughout the city."

 

In an effort to revitalize the area, merchants on Barracks Row banded together in the early 1990s to create the Barracks Row Business Alliance, which later formed the Barracks Row Main Street program as a 501©(3)organization. Barracks Row Main Street brought together merchants and residents to create a vision for the district and guided projects to accomplish their goals.

 

"Eighth Street is a genuine reflection of the dedication and hope that resides within each of its merchants, volunteers, and residents," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Barracks Row Main Street has made great strides, not only in reclaiming its buildings and recruiting new businesses, but also by promoting Barracks Row as a center for celebrating community."

 

"People who were once afraid to walk down 8th Street now enjoy strolling the beautiful, well-lit brick sidewalks," said Laurie Morin, co-owner of Hoopla Traders and Capitol Hill Bikes. "The increased foot traffic has been a boon to our businesses, which have expanded and now are thriving."

 

Since 1999, Barracks Row Main Street has seen a tremendous amount of physical improvement and economic revitalization activity: 51 facade restorations; attracting 40 net new businesses, including nine outdoor café expansions; 198 net new jobs; three new traditional building constructions; a new streetscape; and a self-guided history trail. The total amount of public and private reinvestment in the community has been $19 million. Visit www.barracksrow.org to learn more.

 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their historic commercial districts. Active in more than 1,800 downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, the Main Street program has generated more than $18.3 billion in new investment. Participating communities have created 244,543 net new jobs, 60,577 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 96,200 buildings, leveraging an average of $35.17 in new investment for every dollar spent on Main Street initiatives. Visit www.mainstreet.org to learn more.