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<P>“The future belongs to Main Streets. Let’s get ready for it.” Edward McMahon of Urban Land Institute delivered this rousing call to arms to the 1200+ crowd of devoted Main Streeters at the Opening Plenary at the National Main Streets Conference last week in Des Moines, Iowa. According to Ed McMahon, strip centers and urban sprawl are becoming “retail for the last century.” Shifting demographics, evolving technology, economic pressures, and new social mores are leading to greater focus on mixed-use development, city centers, and — of course — Main Streets. McMahon shared a number of interesting concepts during his presentation:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We’re at a bright line moment in history. The sustainability revolution is the new industrial revolution. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Historic preservation & <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Main Street</st1:address></st1:Street> are at the heart of sustainability. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sense of place makes our physical surroundings worth caring about. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The biggest development opportunity of the next 50 years will be converting dead strip commercial centers into walkable mixed use centers. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The ‘placemaking dividend’ is about creating a place where people want to stay, spend money, and come back. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Watch the full plenary recording and enjoy McMahon’s energetic and hopeful outlook for the next era of placemaking.<o:p></o:p></DIV></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> In addition, </o:p><FONT><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Main Street</st1:address></st1:Street> director Doug Loescher shared the six key themes from the <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">2011 State of Main Street</st1:address></st1:Street> Report:</FONT><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Main St.</st1:address></st1:Street> communities are holding steady. Despite lower investment, they enjoy good economic health. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Mom & pop shops are still struggling. Business development helps bottom lines, but not necessarily job growth. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A lot of the entrepreneurs are from out of town (and even pop up overnight). <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Think “Hot Green.” Sustainability/smart growth/green issues continue to mature. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Government funding changes/cuts are affecting Main Streets all around the country. <o:p></o:p></DIV></LI>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The public has a growing interest in the <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Main Street</st1:address></st1:Street> cause, in large part due to higher visibility in news & communities. </DIV></LI></UL>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> <FONT face=Tahoma size=2>Note: Above was excerpted from the National Main Street website. Below is a link to a video of the Opening Plenary Session.</FONT></FONT></o:p></DIV>
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<DIV><A href="http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/training/conference/2011-des-moines/virtual-attendee/">http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/training/conference/2011-des-moines/virtual-attendee/</A></DIV>
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<DIV>Congratulations to four of our Oregon Main Street communities who received National Accreditation for their efforts in 2010:</DIV>
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<LI>Albany</LI>
<LI>Corvalls</LI>
<LI>McMinnville</LI>
<LI>Oregon City</LI></UL>
<DIV>Plus, Joan Wessell, director of the Corvallis Downtown Association, was one of the 17 people acknowledged nationwide for her 20 years plus as a main street manager.</DIV>
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<DIV>Sheri Stuart, Coordinator</DIV>
<DIV>Oregon Main Street</DIV>
<DIV>725 Summer St., Suite C</DIV>
<DIV>Salem, OR 97301</DIV>
<DIV>503.986.0679</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.oregon4biz.com/Grow-Your-Business/Business-services/Main-Street/">http://www.oregon4biz.com/Grow-Your-Business/Business-services/Main-Street/</A></DIV>
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