[OMS_MANAGERS] Questions on Streetscape

[Tom Weber]

Sierra...you are back! Welcome home.  Thank you for telling the story. The only thing I see is that you didn’t give yourself enough credit for how well it all turned out! 
Btw, we need to change the date for the celebration from the 27th to the first weekend in May. Sorry.
Suzanne
----- Original Message -----
From: Sierra Lauder <sierra at tillamookchamber.org>
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Sent: Tue, 26 Feb 2019 16:17:08 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Questions on Streetscape

Man, we just did this for two full years in Tillamook, and it was intense. I think whatever system allows for the project to go the fastest is the best system, based on our experience here. If I was offering other quick tips, I would suggest a parking plan that identifies alternative parking and includes bright signage and maps that you can distribute to all businesses and through media and email, and additional sandwich board signage that says something like “BUSINESSES OPEN” with the businesses listed below, and then having a clear media plan. We did weekly email updates that were updates on construction progress and traffic impacts, and went out of our way to uses businesses as landmarks (like saying “the crosswalk between Sunflower Flats and Tora Sushi will be under construction, with alternative crossings suggested between Coliseum Theater and Diamond Art or Anderson Florists and Pacific Restaurant”) strategically to highlight the businesses being impacted, and we tried to avoid any language that could suggest negativity- even in framing the sentences to say “under construction” as opposed to saying “closed.” We also did Facebook Live videos during interesting things like excavation, etc, and went on the radio every week. We made t-shirts for the construction workers that they could wear while working (bright orange) and used our downtown branding and had some phrase about upgrading downtown and a completion date… they were happy to get them and wore them often- maybe you’ll see them on your downtown construction workers in the future 😊 I can’t encourage you enough to plan ahead and stay positive. I think the construction debacle was the best thing that ever happened to our downtown- not just because it looks rad now that it’s done, but because it had EVERYONE talking about downtown and we were able to make ourselves so relevant to the community and at the center of every conversation.


Sierra Lauder

Director of Events and Downtown Development
Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce
Office: (503) 842-7525
Cell: (503) 354-4400



From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> On Behalf Of STUART Sheri * OPRD
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2019 11:50 AM
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [OMS_MANAGERS] FW: Questions on Streetscape

This message is being distributed over the Listserv. All responses will be over the Listserv.

Any suggestions for Shannen?
From: president at historicwillamette.com<mailto:president at historicwillamette.com> [mailto:president at historicwillamette.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2019 11:16 AM
To: STUART Sheri * OPRD
Subject: Questions on Streetscape

We had a task force meeting last night and was wondering if you may know from the other communities that have gone through Streetscape construction if doing the whole street at once, half the street, one block at a time, etc. is typically better for businesses than another. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Shannen
Historic Willamette