We are celebrating 15 years of collaborations and partnerships, projects and progress! Check out our Revitalization slide show (right-hand column) to see more before and after photos.
15 Years
Strong: The Franklin Downtown Partnership Works Toward Vision of Revitalized
Downtown Center
It began with a few business owners,
some community leaders, a town employee, and several Franklin residents who
wanted to revitalize downtown Franklin’s development, help recreate the town
center as a destination, and help stimulate economic growth.
Fifteen years, three new mixed-use
buildings, 25 beautification days, three greenspace areas, new benches, new
trash barrels, one bronze statue, nearly 40 events and downtown strolls, one Streetscape
and Roadway Improvement plan, and 200 members later, the Franklin Downtown
Partnership is planning even more collaborations and improvements in the heart
of Franklin.
“It’s truly all about the word
‘Partnership.’ Our goal has always been to stimulate economic growth by
bringing community groups, the town, businesses and residents together and putting
ideas to work that improve our downtown,” says Lisa Piana, FDP Executive
Director.
“We’ve worked on impactful projects
behind the scenes; things that have cultural, beautification and historical
importance and improve the quality of life in town.”
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| East Central Street furniture building, 2005. |
Over time, many people have forgotten
the
dilapidated furniture store building on East Central Street, which is now
the home of The Cake Bar, Maguro House and Dean College student housing. Others
have forgotten the abandoned rental car lot on West Central Street across from
THE BLACK BOX and Mac City. That location is now commuter parking and greenspace.
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| Franklin Commons building, East Central Street, 2015. |
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| Strawberry Stroll, 2007, West Central Street greenspace. |
Projects like these illustrate the non-profit
Partnership’s mission – to stimulate economic development; to bring residents,
business owners, and community leaders together; to encourage cooperation; and
to provide leadership for the purpose of revitalizing downtown Franklin.
“We started with the main belief that a
strong, thriving downtown is the heart and soul of Franklin. Interestingly, we
have a lot of members who are not downtown businesses who understand that. The
connections we create make the difference. It has taken all of these people
coming together over the past 15 years that make the Partnership work,” says
Jane Curran, a founding FDP board member.
In 2001, the group started with only eight
members. By 2015 the organization had grown to nearly 200 member businesses,
groups and residents. Many of those have been members for more than 10 years. In
the past 15 years the FDP has had a hand in at least 25 projects (see related
article).
“In that time I’ve seen the
organization grow to 200 members, and I’m very proud of the way we work cohesively
together on to these important projects,” says Nicole Fortier, FDP President
for the past 12 1/2 years. “Positive changes
require great ideas, countless volunteer hours, and, often times, funding and
support from our town council and state representatives, and we’ve been very
successful in leading these collaborations.”
Franklin Town Administrator Jeff
Nutting says in 2001 the Town Council made the revitalization of the town
center a priority and began working with the FDP. According to Nutting, the
Partnership has played an important role in the overall economic development of
Franklin.
A flurry of new building on East
Central and Summer streets, greenspace installations, downtown gateway signs, and
creation of a statue in front of the Historical Museum in the early 2000s
slowed when the U.S. economy struggled beginning in 2007. The Partnership
continued to hold seasonal events downtown as a way for the community to
socialize and to draw interest to the area. The group also solicited members’
ideas and opinions about the Roadway and Streetscape Improvement project.
 |
| Park and statue at Franklin Historical Museum |
When road construction is completed in late
summer, downtown Franklin will be safer for pedestrians and have a more
welcoming appearance.
“During construction our main focus is
on supporting the businesses that are downtown today. We currently meet with
town officials every two weeks to keep members up to date. We are planning
another progressive dinner and new ways to bring people into the center of
town,” says Lisa Piana.
The group is also making a strategic
plan for life after two-way traffic and working on aesthetic improvements,
including banners for the light poles. Organizers are busy planning the annual
events as well.
The Partnership’s Strawberry Stroll
will happen June 9, the October Stroll will be October 6 and the Holiday Stroll
is set for December 1. The group is lining up networking events and guest
speaker presentations, and will also lend support to the Franklin Cultural
District Committee’s Summer Arts Festival in July.
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| Volunteers, Senator Spilka at Summer Street ribbon cutting ceremony. |
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(L to R) Jim Vallee, Jeff Nutting, Jane Curran, Lisa Piana
with gateway signage downtown Franklin. |
The Partnership and the Town of
Franklin both agree that the finished downtown project will attract more
private investment to the area.
“A vibrant downtown is a core value of
a community. People identify with a nice downtown, one that’s an attractive
place to socialize, dine out, and do business. An improved downtown improves
rents, and improved rents improve the town’s bottom line,” says Town
Administrator Nutting.
“We’ll still have challenges,” he
continues. “Parking is one we’re continually working on; it’s a problem faced
by every downtown. The future of Franklin is about redevelopment of old warehouses
and manufacturing space, and upgrading buildings downtown. We just have to keep
going. People still need a social network, service needs, unique places to
shop. The challenge is finding the right mix of businesses that will do well in
downtown Franklin, and the Partnership can help us do that.”
According
to Fortier, when the streetscape project is completed this summer and traffic
flow is improved, the downtown will be much closer to what the Partnership
envisioned many years ago.
“We’ll be able to feel the change in
downtown Franklin,” says Fortier. “As an organization, the Partnership will
continue to drive foot traffic to the center of town and invite interesting and
unique businesses and restaurants to move here. We’re not done.”
The Partnership invites residents and
business owners to participate in discussions about what they would like to see
in their downtown. The group relies on sponsorship, membership dues and
donations to fund events and oversee projects. Resident memberships are $25,
and business memberships start as low as $100.
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May 26, 2016
