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VisionWorks' Breakthrough Solutions
Community and Regional Success Stories
Hot Springs First Annual Downtown Development Conference a Real Success – October 2004
Congratulations to Kent Myers and the other members of the
planning committee for the terrific job they did in organizing the
First Annual Downtown Development Conference in Hot
Springs on September 30. Sponsored by the City of Hot Springs, the
Downtown Association of Hot Springs, and Congressman Mike Ross’s
Office, the conference drew 188 participants from Hot Springs and
other communities in Arkansas. The conference grew out of the work
of Focus Garland County, with its inspiration coming from Darlene
Garrett, President of Community Development Resources, Inc.
Welcomed by Hot Springs Mayor Mike Bush and Chris Masingill on
behalf of Congressman Ross, conference participants heard experts
discuss how to define downtown, utilization of thermal waters,
overall development of downtown, financing downtown improvements,
and gaming as a tourist attraction.
Jim von Tungeln, President of Urban Planning Associates in
Little Rock began by leading a discussion: “Defining Downtown:
What Is It and Where Is It?” In response to Jim von Tungeln’s
question about the functions of the downtown area, the conference
participants responded: government offices, commercial core, arts
center, tourism, churches, the national park, entertainment
opportunities, unique history, education (Math and Science School),
unique retail shops, health care facilities, restaurants, homes and
apartments, events and conventions, lodging, native American trails,
music, financial center, state highway, and a drainage basin.
Von Tungeln then continued, “How do you describe something that
performs so many functions? That’s why we just call it downtown.
Downtown is really a state of mind. Downtowns, more than any other
square mile of your city, define who you are. I can’t think of any
successful cities that do not have a thriving downtown. Downtown is
the only unique part of the city. Shopping malls are about all the
same. As downtown goes, so will your city go. You have a treasure
here, and treasures need to be nurtured and loved.”
David Hoffman, Vice President of Harrison-Hoffman Design
Group in Atlanta, GA, spoke on the value of thermal pools:
“No matter what you do with it, water is fun, and everybody likes
it.” Hoffman stated that successful pools foster interaction with
water and families, include active and passive elements, express a
theme with vibrant colors, and are relaxing and attractive. He
showed slides that included wave pools, rivers, raft slides, log
walks, basketball goals, water cannons, wading pools, spray pools,
and swim channels.
Jeff Sanford, President of the Memphis Center City
Commission, stated that there is now $2.2 billion of new development
in downtown Memphis, of which $1.7 billion is private financing. “In
the revitalization of downtown Memphis, it couldn’t have taken place
without a true public-private partnership.” He shared “Six
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way”:
1) There is no low-hanging fruit in downtown
revitalization. The job is done block by block,
building by building. Downtowns across the country face the
daunting task of turning around decades of decline.
Opposition to downtown revitalization is part and parcel of
downtown revitalization.
2) Get your act together! The chances for success
are greatly enhanced by getting all the stakeholders
together. The Memphis Center City Commission has
representation from all stakeholders in the downtown area.
Focus as much firepower – public, private, professional,
financial resources, authority, clout, political power, etc.
– into one organization as you can, so they can get things
done.
3) Create a plan and make it policy. Create a
long-range plan, a roadmap for downtown development.
Resources are too limited to take a scattershot approach.
Besides, you want to make sure that all the pieces fit
together when you finish.
4) Everybody owns downtown. Downtowns are unique –
they are the one neighborhood that belongs to everyone in
the community.
5) Make Hot Springs Hot Springs. The central business
district in Hot Springs has always had its own look and
feel. Fix it up, add to it, and find new uses for old
places. But hold on to Hot Springs’s uniqueness for dear
life.
6) Be Patient! Rome wasn’t built in a day. Downtown
development often takes two or three times as long as you
think it will take – and ten times longer than you’d like it
to take!
Paul Esterer, CEO of First Security Vanadis Capital LLC from
Little Rock discussed
“Financing Downtown Improvements – What Works.” He stated “
What creates a sense of place is a tight neighborhood. You want a
mix – a diverse culture - a multi-cultural group of people that
includes people who can’t afford to buy and those who can.” He then
described multiple funding sources and stated that you need as many
incentives as possible to spur downtown revitalization.
Ben Combs, President of Combs and Company in Little Rock,
recalled that 60 or 70 years ago, Hot Springs attracted people for
the thermal waters, mountain walks and vistas, gaming in downtown,
racing, and the lakes. He stated that gaming could be
one attraction, not the attraction to Hot Springs.
The keys to gaming success in Mississippi have been a favorable
location close to Memphis, a favorable gaming tax rate, and open
competition.
Conference participants then broke into discussion groups to
begin planning how to address the five issues presented at the
conference. The groups will continue to meet and move forward.
Terrific job Hot Springs – we look forward to great things happening
in downtown!
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