visiting danville
DESCRIPTION
The Danville/Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau issues this presentation as a guide to where the organization would like to see Danville go in terms of signage, greenspace, and streetscape!TRANSCRIPT
Visiting Danville…
AND OUR STREETSCAPE, OUR SIGNAGE, AND OUR SPACES
In the near future, we will need to focus on product development in
addition to our traditional promotional duties
Why act now?
Our Danville ÒproductÓ has been enhanced. While some additional
hotel/B&B stock would be great, itÕs our dining scene that needed the most
help.
Why act now? Impact of Expanded
Alcohol Sales
Expanded Alcohol
Bluegrass Pizza & Pub, The Hub, 303 West, Mermaids, V-The Market, and
Beer Engine will go a long way to kick starting a ÒnightlifeÓ of sorts downtown
Expanded Alcohol Events
•Eat Drink Danville•Constitution Square Arts Fest•Gallery Hops•Great American Brass Band
Expanded Alcohol Events
•Eat Drink Danville•Constitution Square Arts Fest•Gallery Hops•Great American Brass Band•More to come…
Why act now?
Other issues..Planning and Zoning HeadlinesOur Parks and Green SpaceTrails and Pedestrian Issues
Being in position…
Step One: Review Best Practices
Step Two: Adopt and Implement a Comprehensive Plan
What Other Cities Are Doing Right
Streetscape Emphasis
Conducive to Business DevelopmentVisually AppealingMore WalkableSafer for PedestriansPet-friendly Stores and RestaurantsTrees and planting
Franklin, TN
Franklin, TN
Franklin, TN
Franklin, TN
Asheville, NC
Asheville, NC
Asheville, NC
Corning, NY
Streetscape Summary
People enjoy walking downtown with a critical mass of retail, arts,
dining, and events.
Signage
Equally as important to visitors as streetscape.
Can be wrapped into streetscape plan.Critical for way-finding, brand
enhancement, and business development.
Lexington, KY
Franklin, TN
Newport, KY
Signage
Quality signage goes hand-in-hand with a strong streetscape.
Spaces
Green SpacesCommunity SpacesGathering Areas
The popularity of these types of spaces is exponentially growing.
Bernheim Forrest, KY
Corning, NY
Corning, NY
Charleston, SC
Abingdon, VA
Lexington, KY - Cheapside Park
Lexington, KY - Cheapside Park
Spaces
These areas service local needs, but also bring in tons of visitors.
Concerts, events, and performances are perfect in these areas.Community gardens are also in the news, along with farmers markets and C.S.A.s.
Common Questions
What is being done about people getting hit crossing the street?
What can or can’t be done with our business signage?
How do we fix the parking problem?Where can we set up the Farmers Market?How can we better our parks?
Common Questions
Is Millennium Park getting all the funding? Where can we put a downtown festival? Why is it so hard to shut down streets for event? Why is it so difficult finding our way around
town? How many banks/financial/doctors offices do we
need downtown? When will our streetlights match?
Common Questions
Perhaps by outlining a plan of action that we can push for, we can help begin to answer
some of these questions. And we feel that at the heart of these issues are streetscape,
signage, and spaces.
Moving Forward
What we have Great relationship with
the Heart of Danville Solid Streetscape base Well-established
national and regional festivals
Moving Forward
Strong P&Z office Parking Garage Dining options Excellent retail base Community Support Bedrock arts
organization
Moving Forward
Our Challenges
Streetscape tied to state funding
Dated signage ordinance
No real way-finding system.
Moving Forward
Limited Public Space
Decline in City Parks
Moving Forward
Let the “what ifs” begin….
Moving Forward
What if…
We push the City and Frankfort to step up?
We pushed for a city-owned public space or structure for events?
We focused on more greenery and flowers downtown?
Moving Forward
What if…
Our other parks got the attention they deserve?
We tweaked our branding approach to coordinate with a new signage system?
Moving Forward
Let’s..
Go to our elected officials and key board members and invite them to see some of the places that do it so well.
Sponsor trips to places like Franklin or Asheville.
Allow people to see the steps other cities have taken.
Moving Forward
Let’s...
Look at branding research and how we might translate it.
See what Frankfort and Danville can do with the streetscape plan and our signage.
Moving Forward
Let’s..
Research alternative uses for our parks and grant programs that help with beautification.
Moving Forward
If we can focus on these key areas, I think visiting Danville will be a better,
and more frequent, experience.