Downtown Digs

As we continue to study successful downtown areas that have adopted the National Main Street Program we continue to be impressed with our findings.  Historic downtown areas just like Centralia have broken through blight conditions and have become vital, economically vibrant downtown city centers.  Here are some bullet points shared by the state of Colorado in an economic report documenting their success with the NMSP about why their “downtown” areas are of value – I thought these points applied beautifully to historic Hub City.

• Many downtown businesses are independently owned.  Independent businesses support local families and keep profits in town.
• An active downtown attracts tourists who are seeking unique, authentic places to visit, spend time and spend money.
• Downtown is an active public forum for community events.
• Downtown provides a unique sense of community and place and reflects local heritage – important factors in attracting new residents and businesses.
• A strong downtown creates jobs and is often an ideal location for new small businesses to “start up” which leads to additional tax revenues for the community.
• By concentrating density and uses, downtowns are a wise use of community resources.
• A healthy downtown is a stabilizing influence that can protect property values in surrounding neighborhoods.

Heritage Tourism Economics Tid-Bits

In continuing our marketing research, we are working to define exactly who the most likely patron of the Wilson Hotel will be, in order that we can create and implement the best marketing strategy possible.  Often while conducting this research we come across ‘golden nuggets’ of great information regarding heritage tourism and ideas related to it. 

The economics of heritage tourism are of particular interest.  We have learned that preservation in an area is not only about preserving the past.  Preservation in a historic district is a key strategy for successful community planning and economic development.  In addition, historic areas comprise the highest concentration of locally owned businesses.  Locally owned/operated businesses make up as much as 85% of the business inventory in historical districts.  Historical districts thrive because of the locally owned business that provides a unique and authentic experience to the heritage tourist. 

 The following statistics from recent studies are typical of the positive findings of preservation’s economic benefits according to the ACHP:

• Historic preservation activities generate more than $1.4 billion of economic activity in Texas each year.
• Rehabilitation of historic properties in Georgia during a five-year period created 7,550 jobs and $201 million in earnings.
• Each dollar of Maryland’s historic preservation tax credit leverages $6.70 of economic activity within that State.
• In one year, direct and indirect expenditures by heritage tourists in Colorado reached $3.1 billion.

The mission of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is to promote the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of our nation’s historic resources, and advise the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. 

Digesting My CDA Notes ~ Highlights…

Our conversations over the past couple days reflecting on the first general membership meeting of the new Centralia Downtown Association have us more motivated than ever about our decision to invest in the heart and soul of Centralia – the historic Hub City core.  Let me preface my thoughts by first saying that it is our style to often elect to perceive things in a wider broader big picture manner as opposed to being overly judgmental, nit-picky and critical in most cases.  For us, it is often the bigger vision that leads the way and less influence is given to the small details which can some times hinder or cloud the bigger vision that is staring us in the face.  With that said, getting directly to the point, our impression of the CDA is not focused on who forgot to introduce who, who is or is not a public speaker, who did/did not dress the part, who followed or broke protocol…  Our focus is and will remain in a positive manner on the features and benefits of how the CDA organization as a functioning body can further the cause of all who depend on the economic success and community vitality of the Hub City historic district.

It was obvious that those who were in attendance on Wednesday night were enthusiastically desiring to learn more about the features and benefits of the CDA, in addition to learning more about the National Main Street program benefits.  This is such an exciting time to be a part of the evolution that is in progress with the CDA bringing a new vehicle to partner with one another for greater success.  In no particular order, here are some of the bullet points I outlined in my notes from the presentation:

• The successful formation of the CDA will establish ONE distinctive voice for all CDA members.  The banding together as “one voice” will have a greater impact through which we can resolve challenges and instigate progress. The CDA will serve as a liaison to the City of Centralia representing the Hub City historic district specifically.
• The CDA will be separate and apart from the Centralia/Chehalis Chamber of Commerce and Centralia City Council in that the CDA organization will directly represent the cause and concerns of the issues specific and exclusive to the historic Hub City downtown core.

On My Way to St. Paul for the National Trust Preservation Conference

I am so excited to be attending my first official Preservation Conference hosted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in St. Paul, MN next week.  I leave on Monday for a full five day conference experience.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America’s communities. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to protect the irreplaceable places that tell America’s story. Staff at the Washington, D.C., headquarters, six regional offices, and 28 historic sites work with the Trust’s 270,000 members and thousands of preservation groups in all 50 states.  The Trust is also the sponsoring agency for the National Main Street Program that the new CDA is currently working to formally adopt and implement in Centralia.

I have been looking forward to attending this conference for almost a year.  It is THE premier conference where preservation experts, professionals in related fields, community and national leaders and those dedicated to protecting historic resources in our respective communities gather annually. 

First CDA General Meeting a Huge Success!

Congratulations to the new CDA board and Interim Director Dan Henderson on a fantastic first CDA meeting!  The meeting drew about 30+ business owners, community leaders, property owners, investors and interested members of the community.

In addition to introductions and brief presentations by Centralia Economic Development Director, Polo Enriquez and Centralia/Chehalis Chamber Director, Todd Christensen, CDA Director, Dan Henderson, presented a very informative power point overview of the National Main Street Program & guidelines for success.  Dan also shared in detail about the CDA being an organization which is “all about you,” referring to the downtown area as the heart and soul of Centralia.  We are excited and looking forward to becoming active members of the new CDA!

More to come as my CDA meeting notes get digested.

Poopy Pigeons Prevail….. *deep sigh*

As we await the delivery of our plastic super duper pigeon/bird anti-roosting strips - - we spent a few hours today concocting our own jerry rig version of a pigeon deterrent…..

The chicken wire and pokey strip apparatus that we thought up has seemed to fail miserably as when we arrived back to the Wilson tonight we had about a ½ crew of feathered foo-ha-has roosting on the ledge ‘next to’ the place where we blocked them from roosting!

So I suppose this is why they get a crazy amount of money for the ‘guaranteed’ plastic pokey strips!  We can hardly wait for ours to arrive.  We’ll keep you posted on our Battle of the Bird…

Centralia Downtown Association Meeting Tonight - Visionaries Unite!

The first general membership meeting of the NEW Centralia Downtown Association is tonight, Wednesday, September 26, 2007 – 6:30pm at the Historic Train Depot.  The new interim CDA Director is Dan Henderson, owner of the newly rehabilitated Stahl Building on Tower Avenue.  The program will be hosted by Centralia Economic Development Director, Polo Enriquez and Director Dan Henderson. 

The downtown area represents a span of over 100 years of business history. During the past century historic downtown Centralia experienced both good economic times and depressed down times.  Over the years there have been many efforts to unite the business owners and property owners of the Centralia downtown area.  Just as in any small town across America, Centralia has had its share of ‘small town politics’ we have heard (but not been involved in).  In the past many different groups with both common and uncommon goals have been formed over the years.  Difficult economic times and challenging business conditions have forced groups to band together for survival and that has been both a detriment and benefit to the unification of downtown as a whole.

The sails of change have been set and the tide is clearly changing in a positive direction.  The founding of the new CDA represents an era of possibilities for the stake holders in the historic district.  The CDA represents an opportunity for every interested community member to become involved in completing the revitalization of the downtown neighborhood.  It is after all, just that – a neighborhood. 

In Search of Wilson Hotel Photographs

As a part of our historical research on the Wilson Hotel we are in search of photographs depicting the hotel, specifically the interior.  We are hoping to find some early pictures documenting the guest rooms and lobby décor.  Ideally, we would love to find pictures from the first 10 or so years that the hotel was in operation, 1914-1925-ish.  That time period would most closely reflect the original interior décor.  However, we are open to pictures from any time period!

If you or someone you know has any photographs of the exterior or interior of the Wilson Hotel - - we would appreciate the opportunity to scan the images on to a CD for our collection.  We will be sharing any new pictures with the Lewis County Historical Museum as well and they will enter them into their archives.  Contact us at info@wilsonhotel.net

Looking for Local Graphic Illustrator

This is an all call for a local graphic illustrator to do some design work for the Wilson project.  We have an illustrator that we have worked with in the past, however, we would like to connect with a local source for graphics work and resource from the local labor pool. 

If you or someone you know is versed in Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop, please email your contact information to info@wilsonhotel.net  Thanks!

Creating A Historic Hospitality Experience

As we tackle the massive rehabilitation construction effort; co-currently we are in the process of planning and procuring the interior components of the hotel.  As experienced travelers ourselves, there are certain in room amenities and hotel attributes that we have come to really appreciate throughout our travel adventures.  Creating a “positive stay” for the patron is critical to building positive brand recognition spread by word of mouth – undoubtedly one of the strongest forms of marketing.    

We believe that when you make a reservation at a “historic” hotel over the common chain hotel like Holiday Inn, Best Western, Days Inn, Econo Lodge, King Oscar or the like - - you are definitely ‘expecting’ a special experience.  Something unique, not the everyday run of the mill check in and check out experience.  As brand name chain hotels strive to bring something unique to the hospitality industry like Westin’s “heavenly bed” or Holiday Inn’s version of the ‘shower experience’ with pressurized Waterpick brand shower head units – historic hotels are a ‘brand’ of their own just by the fact that they are “historic” – limited in supply, novel and for the most part “one of a kind.”