Why Revitalize Downtown McMinnville?
McMinnville’s traditional downtown commercial district is the most visible indicator of our community pride, along with our economic and social health. It can either be an asset or a liability in the effort to recruit new residents, new businesses and industries, retirees, tourists, and others to our community and to keep those we already have. Quality of life is what separates successful cities and towns from declining communities in the new millennium. Finally, our downtown commercial district is the visual representation for our community's heritage. The architecture of our downtown district is a physical expression of McMinnville’s history. The Main Street approach encourages forward-thinking economic development in an historic preservation context so McMinnville’s community asset and legacy can be passed on to future generations.
Because preservation-based downtown revitalization entails the participation of so many people and entities in the community, a wide range of people also benefit — read more about who benefits from McMinnville’s downtown revitalization. Sometimes we may need to make the case for why McMinnville even needs a vibrant downtown district, so we've provided information on why downtown McMinnville is important.
Downtown McMinnville did not deteriorate overnight and it won't be revitalized quickly either. Downtown revitalization is a long-term effort. We know that using the Main Street Approach is hard work, but it has already substantially improved the health of McMinnville’s downtown by giving us an effective framework for our revitalization efforts.