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. 

The CDA will represent one common interest for all involved – making the downtown historic district/neighborhood the very best it can be.  It has been our experience as we researched different hotel buildings to invest in, in many different towns, that the historic districts with active and involved downtown associations were paramount to those that had divided factions of folks ‘doing their own thing.’  Additionally, historic districts that adopted the National Main Street Program operated by the National Historic Trust were heads and shoulders above the rest.  It is exciting to hear that the CDA is considering designation as a formal Main Street Program City. 

It is our desire to be a part of the rebirth of Historic Hub City and be force of positive change for a city we really believe in.  Regardless of political affiliation (which we have none to date) we are so impressed with the dedication of the City Council and their committed interest in the complete revitalization of the historic city center, the ‘green light’ attitude of every public official we have met to date and the group of amazing entrepreneurs who own businesses or buildings in the historic district - - it would seem that the time for a cooperative and progressive downtown association has come because the groundwork has been laid. 

We believe that the increased success of the independent business or building owner downtown can be a result of banding together for the benefit of the success of the entire district.  Seeing downtown as ‘one entity’ instead of a bunch of divided interests will bring the overall efforts of each of us to a whole new level.  The potential is limitless when you consider the possibilities that are available to a united front.  I can think of countless ways that the overall group can realize a whole new level of progress – one that would mimic the amazing “boomtown” effect of the original establishment of the city center over 100 years ago.  This is an exciting time to be a part of the ‘tides of change’ in Centralia.  We have set our own sails for success and look forward to meeting everyone else on the same boat tonight!  See you there!