Group Offers Ways to Improve Downtown Pinehurst
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By Tom Embrey
Senior Writer
A man (or woman) and a plan - that's what it will take to revitalize and reinvent Pinehurst's downtown, according to a group of development experts.
Representatives from the North Carolina Downtown Development Association presented their final report to the Village Council Tuesday.
The report, which offers no real priority, timetable or cost to implement the recommendations, includes 21 steps to help revitalize the village core.
They include hiring a village center manager as soon as practical, developing a brand or marketing identity for the village center, initiating a parking study, prioritizing rehabilitation of the sand parking lot and capitalizing on the village's National Historic Landmark status.
One of the consultants called the Landmark designation a rare status that can be used to attract people to the area.
Consultants Lew Holloway and Rodney Swink told the council and a small group of attendees that organization, above everything else, is the key to developing and implementing a successful plan to improve downtown.
"I've aways said in my years with the Main Street program that every element of Main Street rests on organization," Swink said. "If you can get that right, everything else is possible. If you don't, everything else will struggle."
The 21 recommendations are divided among four areas: economic restructuring, design, promotions and organization. All the recommendations are guided by eight principles: comprehension, incremental approach, self-help, partnerships, assets, quality, change and implementation.
The entire report is available online at villageofpinehurst.org.
Contact Tom Embrey at tembrey@thepilot.com.
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Comments
herecomesthescience 1 year, 8 months ago
And I am guessing those 21 recommendations are top secret??? How about printing them so we have a clue?
JAP 1 year, 8 months ago
How about this quote from the article:
"The entire report is available online at villageofpinehurst.org."
JAP
ahrenggss 1 year, 8 months ago
Don't bother. I hope this "boiler plate" report didn't cost the village anything. This is a typical ("insert' town name here" ) report that recommends the bleeding obvious.
herecomesthescience 1 year, 8 months ago
Exactly. Common sense is free people. Stop spending taxpayer $$$ on bs like this.
ahrenggss 1 year, 8 months ago
Please refer to the same recommendation for kenly, nc. http://kenlynews.com/clients/kenlynews/kenlyreport08.pdf
RmeMP 1 year, 8 months ago
So a group of paid "experts" came up with the following, which is needed:
1 man (or woman) 21 steps 4 areas 8 principles
Does it really need to be that difficult? LoL
JeremyG 1 year, 8 months ago
If definitely needs it in a tanking economy where luxury spending just isn't there like it use to be. Perhaps the banksters who screwed us all can still come down and play a few rounds on #2 (and the politicians who enabled them), but most are out of luck at this point.
TooHot 1 year, 8 months ago
How many of these "experts" have ever owned a business that dealt with sales and growth issues? It's easy to make recommendations that sound good, but without skin in the game and weathered experience, it's all window-dressing and claptrap chatter.
Flabbergasted 1 year, 8 months ago
C'mon people, I'm no Alfred Einstein or a Rocket Surgeon, but it's easy. Take a page out of Aberdeens book. Just put up a banner with a 1940's train and a Christmas ribbon.
SH59 1 year, 8 months ago
I used to have a business in town and during the PGA tournament at the time the Resort discouraged the public from going there. There were no signs and all the merchants were so pumped up and filled their shops with merchandise only to find that no one came. If there is going to be a full community effort, the Resort better be on board or nothing will happen.
herecomesthescience 1 year, 8 months ago
Also, if you want cutomers, open other shops besides old lady knick knacks and clothing. Use common sense.
blessherheart 1 year, 8 months ago
Suggestions?
herecomesthescience 1 year, 8 months ago
Literally anything else.
Bflat 1 year, 8 months ago
More Antiques, art and gifts would be an interesting shopping draw. Homemade fudge and candy, book store, consignment store, pottery and soaps, ...
renoace 1 year, 8 months ago
sending the entire population of yankee's back where they came from is the only solution and that won;t ever happen so you are stuck with the crabby oatmeal and geritol crowd - that is why I moved
JER 1 year, 8 months ago
You evidently didn't move far enough. Please answer me two questions: How old are you and where were you born?
LBK 1 year, 8 months ago
How about a Mast General Store like they have in Asheville, Hendersonville and other places? Fun store to visit and is always busy.
TOOMSTER 1 year, 8 months ago
A few weeks ago, after moving to Pinehurst from California, I needed a optometrist. One was recommended in The Village. As I happen to use a power wheelchair to get around, I found this to be somewhat interesting. After manuvering my chair up on the sidewalk via the curbcut, I discovered there was no access into the building. I was informed that because it was a Historic Landmark, the Building was "exempt" from the ADA Regs. I very strongly urge the Village Council to add to the NCDDA Recommendations to make beutiful downtown Pinehurst accessible to all who are Blessed to live here. Thank you
Dennis Toomey
sgmartin 1 year, 8 months ago
Well Pinehurst needs to do something. Downtown Pinehurst has turned into a ghost town. Every time I go into the Village another business has closed. Take a page from Southern Pines.
pinehurstmom 1 year, 8 months ago
I don't think you need to pay a group to tell you what's wrong with Pinehurst, just ask the people! First off, how about some stores that would attract locals on a regular basis instead of high priced tourist traps? The Pinehurst Business Guild is a joke. They do nothing to promote the businesses and it seems like the businesses do very little to promote themselves. It amazes me that during the 4th of July parade there are not signs for 4th of July specials for lunch at the restaurants and everyone just leaves. The same thing for the tree lighting ceremony. Most of the stores are not open. Hello-people in the holiday mood ripe for shopping!! Have a Santa in the theatre building to take pictures with-do something to attract people to your businesses! Pinehurst businesses have to start to work together to promote themselves or they will continue to fail.
pinehurstmom 1 year, 8 months ago
I just read the whole report. It completely ignores the rapidly growing "married with children" demographic in Pinehurst. You better figure out who your potential customers are before you start ignoring segments of the population.
Bflat 1 year, 8 months ago
Blowing Rock had it's downturn for a while until it snapped out of it and made downtown inviting with events in its little town park, new business came in with quaint shops, and the resort appeal began to come back. An author is writing books based on life in that little town, and that helped. I suspect the lack of signs and the businesses don't actually do promotions that much is a factor that is affecting business along with the high rent.. On a recent visit the shopkeepers were not friendly and most didn't even speak when I entered the store. I will say the gourmet shop with the different flavored oils stands out plus all those goodies for snacks, dips, pickles was a great place to shop with very helpful people making suggestions.
JER 1 year, 8 months ago
Looks like the folks in Pinehurst are practicing what they preach. Cuts in spending is what will make this country great again.