Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California

Designated area

Thirty-eight city blocks (2.8 miles) between Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, from La Brea Avenue to the east and Doheny Drive to the west.

Summary

Some 600 businesses are scattered along the boulevard that features seven historic structures, including Irv's, a 1946 burger stand, and several parks.

Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood is a reflection of the city's residents. The West Hollywood Memorial Walk pays tribute to those who have died from HIV/AIDS. Municipal flagpoles proudly fly rainbow flags next to the American flag. Ethnic grocery stores, Russian restaurants, and delis cater to emigres from Russia or Ukraine, who make up nearly 20 percent of the city's population.

The boulevard's festive atmosphere — enhanced by colorful signage — makes it ideal for annual Russian, Halloween, and LGBT pride festivals that take place here. Despite being a magnet of activity 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the boulevard is kept in pristine condition by a program of intensive street cleaning and ongoing maintenance.

When West Hollywood incorporated in 1984 the boulevard was a major eyesore. To bring back the street, the city began by burying utility lines and tearing up abandoned rail tracks in the median. In 1997, residents embarked on an 18-month planning process. The Santa Monica Boulevard Master Plan represented their collective desire for a culturally expressive street that acknowledged the area's historic heritage and realized its potential as a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented urban boulevard.

After the City of West Hollywood acquired control of the state-owned boulevard from the state department of transportation in 1999, reconstruction commenced. Two years, 1,200 trees, and $34 million later, Santa Monica Boulevard reopened as a complete street, a multi-modal thoroughfare with thriving businesses that serve a diverse population. The redesigned street and several adjacent structures, including a new library and affordable housing building, include green features.  Santa Monica Boulevard also incorporates large amounts of public art, and new and proposed parking regulations will improve the economic viability of businesses located along this historic right-of-way.

Planning  and reconstruction

• 15,000 feet of abandoned railroad tracks and 5,000 wooden ties from median removed as part of boulevard reconstruction; utility lines buried
• Community stakeholders engage in detailed discussion of boulevard's aesthetics and function as part of 18-month planning process; result is the Santa Monica Boulevard Master Plan;
• City negotiates with California Department of Transportation to gain ownership of boulevard; initially reluctant, Caltrans now views the boulevard as redevelopment model
• Two-year, $34 million reconstruction project enhances street's pedestrian appeal; sidewalks widened, 1,200 trees planted, street furnishings, lighting, traffic calming

Parking best practices

• Reduced restaurant parking requirements for small commercial spaces has enabled restaurants to thrive all along the boulevard. These establishments, many of which have outdoor dining, have been instrumental in creating a pedestrian-friendly street
• Parking credits program proposed; would create parking districts with shared valet;  parking credits would allow business owners to expand or intensify use
• Surface parking in front of new commercial buildings along the boulevard not allowed; all parking must be hidden from view

Sustainability

• High-density, multi-family housing surrounds boulevard, providing large consumer base
• Proposed transit overlay zone would encourage mixed-use development along boulevard
• Dedicated bicycle lanes exist along boulevard's west end; bike parking throughout
• Climate Action Plan calls for bicycle and car sharing; electric-vehicle charging stations
• Landscaped medians feature drought-resistant plants; street trees planted with gap-graded soil that allows roots to grow and access air and water without lifting sidewalks
• LEED-certified West Hollywood Library near western end opens October 2010
• Solar-powered Sierra Bonita Affordable Housing project (2010) features roof deck garden, shady bamboo clusters, drought-tolerant landscaping, solar hot water

Street scene

• Home to annual Russian Festival, Halloween Carnival (attracts 500,000 costumed revelers), Christopher Street West annual LGBT parade, Book Fair
• 1% for Art requires new development to provide public art; boulevard's medians used to showcase sculptures; current neon artwork honors boulevard's Route 66 connection
• Artistic signage stems from city's creative ordinance allowing signs of high quality and visual interest to exceed size limits
• Monument stands at site of where protestors condemned 1991 gubernatorial veto of bill that would have banned job discrimination against homosexuals

Cultural Heritage

• Part of historic Route 66, a 2,448-mile roadway between Chicago and Los Angeles
• Seven historic structures on boulevard including Irv's Burgers and The Lot, where movies were shot, including Wuthering Heights (1939) and West Side Story (1961)
• Site of West Hollywood Memorial Walk; bronze plaques engraved with the names of those who have died from HIV-AIDS embedded in the sidewalk

U Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Designated area

Seven blocks of U Street N.W. between 9th and 16th Streets N.W.

Summary

In then-segregated Washington, U Street was an epicenter of African American businesses, entertainment, and civic and religious life. The street earned the nickname "Black Broadway" for the number of theaters and jazz clubs that attracted the country's top black musicians, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nat "King" Cole, Pearl Bailey, and "Jelly Roll" Morton.

The street also was the site of buildings designed by several prominent, 20th century African American architects, including John Lankford, considered the "dean of black architecture."

Following World War II and the invalidation of the city's racially restrictive real estate covenants in 1948, the character of the street as the hub of the African American cultural and entertainment scene in Washington, D.C., changed. A long period of decline began, punctuated and accelerated by the 1968 shooting of Dr. King and subsequent rioting along U Street N.W., 14th Street N.W., and the surrounding area.

Recovery from the damage and subsequent disinvestment because of the riots did not take hold until the mid-1980s and early 1990s, with construction of the Reeves city government building, the U Street–Cardoza Metrorail station, and new housing as well as the opening of new businesses.

Today the street's vibrancy has returned. New and restored venues host a variety of musical styles. Restaurants and bars teem with crowds of all ages and backgrounds, and new and long-time residents mix at the farmers market or among striking historic buildings. Observes Jane Freundel Levey, director of heritage programs at Cultural Tourism DC: "14th and U ... [are] absolutely right now the epitome of the new multicultural America."

Prominent African American architecture

• True Reformer Building, 1200 U St. N.W., headquarters for African American fraternal and benevolent society, designed in Renaissance Revival style by John Lankford (1902)
• Minnehaha Nickelodeon Theater (1909), 1213 U St. N.W., now the home of Ben's Chili Bowl; Renaissance Revival style designed by P.A. Hurlehaus
• Industrial Savings Bank (1917), 11th and U Streets N.W., designed by Isaiah T. Hatton; demonstrates early 20th century style blending with surrounding 19th century residential architecture
• Prince Hall Masonic Temple (1922), 1000 U St. N.W., designed in the neoclassical style by Albert Cassell, prominent African American architect of many civic, church, and Howard University buildings in D.C.

History, Culture

• Lincoln Theater (1922), 1215 U St. N.W., served African American community during segregation; closed after 1968 race riots but reopened in 1994 after being restored with $10 million in public and private funds
• Jazz club Bohemian Caverns, 11th and U Streets N.W., opened as Club Caverns in 1926; became Crystal Caverns and closed in 1968; reopened 1999
• U Street Neighborhood Association led historic district designation effort; hosts Annual Holiday Party, Silent Auction, and Community Clean-Up Day
• Living City Block DC installed community garden at Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments in July 2011; raised beds make garden accessible to all residents

Revitalization

• Reeves Center, 14th and U Streets N.W., houses city agencies; built in 1986, is cornerstone of redevelopment with city investment of $50 million; building set back from street to create urban plaza, site of current Saturday farmers market
• Street becomes more accessible with opening of Metrorail station for Green and Yellow Lines (1991); many bus lines also serve street
• New, popular bike-sharing program, Capital Bikeshare, has stations at 10th and U Streets N.W. and 16th and U Streets N.W.
• 1998 HUD grants helped fund "Remembering U Street" Historic Signage marking 15 historic sites and U Street Commercial Facade Improvement to more than 150 dilapidated properties on U and 14th Streets N.W.
• New housing development bringing new residents and revenue; mostly high-end apartments constructed or renovated from older buildings
• All 48 units of Portner Place, 1449 U St. N.W., are affordable, Section 8 housing
• Tenants partner with developer to purchase the seniors-only housing complex, Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments (15th and U Streets N.W.); Section 8 contract extended for 20 years to keep apartments affordable

Front Street, Lahaina, Hawaii

Designated area

Five blocks between Shaw Street to the southeast and Baker Street to the northwest.

Summary

In 1997, for example, the street underwent a major $11 million facelift that included widening sidewalks and burying most electric utility lines.

Today the street presents two characters to the world, one steeped in history and the other in tourism. Through the use of locally and federally recognized historic districts, architectural style and design guidelines, ongoing maintenance, and the efforts of citizen and business organizations, Front Street displays its historic character while accommodating a steady stream of tourists arriving throughout the year by cruise ships and airlines.

Lahaina is often referred to as the "jewel in the crown of Maui." Front Street contributes much to the town's favorable reputation, including scenic ocean and mountain views, historic architecture, a vibrant mix of retail shops, restaurants and other businesses, and the largest Banyan tree in the U.S.

Historic heritage

• From south to north, Front Street and building architecture reflects chronological history of area starting with the Moku'ula archaeological site; some buildings along Front Street date back to the 1830s
• Evidence of some of the earliest human habitation in Hawaii, dating as far back as the year 700 A.D., located at corner of Front and Shaw streets; a significant archaeological site slowly being restored by the nonprofit group, Friends of Moku'ula
• Reminders of Hawaii's whaling era (1820-1860) including interpretive plaques along street highlighting building sites from period and site of freshwater pump used by sailors to fill kegs as part of layover in port to re-provision whaling ships.
• Lahaina  recognized as first capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1802 by King Kamehameha I;  remained capital until 1845 when King Kamehameha III named Honolulu capital

Planning, revitalization

• Proposal to restore historic Lahaina published in 1961; first historic district adopted by the County of Maui in 1962; second historic district established 1967; districts ensure protection of historic buildings facades
• Lahaina added to list of national historic landmarks in 1965; three years later Lahaina architectural style book published to help protect plantation-era vernacular architecture from mid-19th and early 20th centuries
• Interpretive master plan for Lahaina historic district created in 2000; sign guidelines for historic districts in Lahaina adopted 2001
• West Maui Community Plan (1996) addresses density and commercial development issues within Lahaina's historic district, including Front Street
• Implementation of a heritage trail (received  2004 Keep It Hawaii award) and an annual "Fix Up-Clean Up-Educate-Celebrate" program
• Affordable housing (Front and Kenui Streets; 142 units) completed in 2001 by Front Street Affordable Housing Partners; cost  $15.3 million
• Jurisdictions and groups helping protect Front Street historic character include Maui County Planning Department, Maui County Cultural Resources Commission, Lahaina Restoration Foundation, Friends of Moku'ula, Hui O Wa'a Kaulua, LahainaTown Action Committee

Design, amenities, events

• Two-story building height restriction ensures human scale streetscape
• Wide sidewalks made from eclectic mix of materials reflecting differences as sidewalks were built and rebuilt over time
• Lahaina's unique character and sense of place "lies not so much in its interesting history [but the] blend of cultural themes and economic influences that have each left a physical remnant of their presence, and it is that mosaic of remnants that gives Lahaina its unique character." (excerpt Design Study for Front Street Improvement Plan)
• Five parks border Front Street: Malu'uluolele (500 Front St.), Kamehameha Iki (525 Front St.), Banyan Tree (600 block of Front Street), James Campbell Memorial (600 block of Front Street), Library Park (600 block of Front Street)
• Bike racks and the County of Maui Lahaina Villager Bus Service; time limited on-street parking along Front Street; off-street parking located nearby
• Special events include monthly Hawaiian Music concert, Progressive Dinner Through Lahaina's Historic Sites, Friday Night is Art Night, Na Kamehameha Pa'u Parade, Fourth of July Fireworks, Chinese Moon Festival, Lahaina Halloween, Banyan Tree Holiday Lighting
• 2012 marks 50th anniversary of Lahaina Restoration Foundation, lead group responsible for preserving and maintaining the historic integrity of Lahaina and Front Street

Main Street, Galena, Illinois

Designated area

Six blocks between Franklin Street to the north and Water Street to the south.

Summary

Before tourists and artists put Galena on the map, Ulysses S. Grant launched his 1868 presidential campaign from the DeSoto House Hotel at 230 South Main St. Other famous guests of the hotel were Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.

The historic architecture and character of Main Street haven't kept Galena and its downtown problem-free, however. A proposal in 1970 to raze 22 downtown buildings spurred residents to resoundingly defeat the idea and begin rehabilitation efforts that eventually included the burial of overhead cables, replacement of sidewalks, and construction of pedestrian walkways to off-street parking that serves downtown.

The result is a unique street where one can cross over and back between the 19th and 21st centuries.

Hero's welcome, historic status

• Towering arch over Main Street emblazoned with "Hail to the Chief Who in Triumph Advances" and 25,000 cheering citizens greet General Ulysses S. Grant upon his return at end of Civil War
• Grant subsequently based his 1868 presidential campaign out of DeSoto House Hotel at 230 South Main St., one of the oldest operating hotels in Illinois (since 1855)
• Galena's historic district, including Main Street, added to National Register in 1969; historic district includes more than 90 percent of city and contains approximately one thousand pre-1900 buildings
• Most buildings along Main Street built of red brick in Federal style popular during 1840s

Planning and preservation

• A historic preservation ordinance — in 1965, one of Illinois's first — requires architectural review of proposed exterior building changes, ensuring that the unique consistency of Main Street remains
• 2003 comprehensive plan led to replacement of downtown infrastructure, including the burying of overhead cables on side and parallel streets to downtown (lines previously buried along Main Street); also replacing sidewalks and signs, adding pedestrian walkways to remote parking
• City worked with Ball State University in 2010 to complete photographic and architectural survey of all historic district buildings; Preservation Commission using data to apply for National Landmark status
• Galena Downtown Business Association sponsors events and contributes funds for street beautification, installation of hanging flower baskets
• Strong tradition of volunteerism in Galena; approximately 60 different organizations focus on historic preservation, gardening, special events

Topography, floods and fires 

• Main Street bends with the topography, providing rare spatial character and interesting views of gently rising hills
• Downtown Galena's streets laid out on three parallel tiers against the hillside; Main Street connected to parallels via pedestrian walkways and side streets
• To reduce street flooding from Galena River flood gates added in 1951; levees protect street but block view of water
• Fires in the 1850s led to prohibition of wood construction; most buildings in downtown constructed from brick and stone

Tourism-based economy

• Tourist campaign endorsed in 1980s by then-mayor Frank Einsweiler leads to changes including turnover of many long-standing businesses as new commercial stores open
• Galena and Main Street receive over a million visitors each year, second only to Chicago in the state of Illinois
• Galena popular as second home location for Chicagoans; beginning in the 1970s Chicago artists transformed many Main Street storefronts into galleries and studios
• Trolley tours depart from Main Street daily, including tours of historic district, historic homes, haunted sites, area wine country
• From intersection of Main Street and Water Street, bikers, hikers, and bird-watchers take advantage of a walkway along the river
• Seasonal events on Main Street draw residents and tourists: 8,000 people attend Halloween Parade; Christmas events include Luminaria Weekend featuring 5,000 candle-lit luminaries and horse-drawn carriage rides; costumed performers portray live holiday activities in storefront window displays

Main Street, Nantucket, Massachusetts

Designated area

Ten blocks between Quaker Road (Caton Circle) and Straight Wharf.

Summary

Since the decline of the whaling industry in the 1840s, visitors and tourism have been the mainstay of the island's economy. Nantucket's population quintuples in the summer, crowding Main Street with pedestrians, cars, and commercial vehicles. The resulting congestion and traffic during the island's high season have been discussed for several years, including in the town's 2009 master plan.

The master plan also reaffirms the importance of the island's historic preservation guidelines and the investments by millionaire philanthropist Walter Beinecke, Jr., during the 1960s that protected the character of Main Street, what it contributes to the local economy, and the memories it instills.

History and character

• Original downtown settlement, Sherburne, dates to 1673; Straight Wharf, at the end of Main Street, built in 1723
• Cobblestones installed in 1837 to help keep mud out of street; lower portion of street widened in 1846 after fire destroys most buildings
• Lower Main Street commercial area, between Straight Wharf and Center Street, has one-way traffic; two-way traffic through residential area on upper Main closer to Quaker Road
• Houses and mansions of upper Main Street built in 19th century during whaling era; best-known are the "three bricks"  between 93 and 97 Main Street — identical Greek Revival-style homes built by Joseph Starbuck between 1836 and 1838 for his three sons
• Other notable houses include the Richard Gardner House (139 Main St., prior to 1688); the Federal-style Thomas Macy House (99 Main St., 1770), Captain Edward Cary House (117 Main St., 1790s), and Henry Coffin House (75 Main St., 1835); the Greek Revival-style Hadwen House (96 Main St., 1845) and George Gardner houses  at 110 and 141 Main St.; and the mid-Victorian Charles Robinson house (108 Main St., 1899)
• Pacific Club and former customs house at 1 Main Street (1772), and Pacific National Bank at 61 Main Street (1810), both survived 1846 fire

Planning milestones and challenges

• Historic District comprising part of Nantucket Island established in 1955, added to National Register in 1966; all of Nantucket becomes a local Historic District in 1971
• Sherburne Associates founded in 1957 by millionaire philanthropist Walter Beinecke, Jr.; Beinecke purchased large portions of town to preserve historic charm, appeal to wealthy visitors, and transform Main Street business district
• Zoning established in 1972; in 2003 Commercial Downtown District adopted, allows increased building heights to match current buildings and increased lot usage for maximum density
• Formula Business Exclusion District Overlay enacted in 2006 to preserve character of Main Street by restricting "formula businesses" (i.e. national chain stores and franchises, restaurants, take-out and bars)
• Limited areas for parking (300 on-street spaces in downtown core, angle parking along commercial portion of Main) insufficient during summer months; 2009 Master Plan suggests ways to limit cars during tourist season
• Ballot referendum (2006) and reports by the Urban Land Institute (2008) and the University of Connecticut (2009) address parking and congestion issues
• Nantucket Regional Transit Authority's nine seasonal fixed bus routes provide access to Main Street, airport, park and ride lots

Community and island culture

• Intersection of Main Street and Quaker Road was known as Russell Square but in 1958 was renamed Caton Circle for Casimiro Caton in recognition of his efforts to beautify this section of Main Street, including the decoration of Christmas trees and tending the circle as a garden, a tradition carried on by his son and daughters; immigrants and their children continue to play an important role on Nantucket
• Well-known local residents "claim" — via name plates — some of the 25 benches along Main Street
• "For some odd, sentimental reason," says one resident, "it is still a thrill, no matter how many times we do it, to go bouncing up Main Street in a car."
• Bartlett Farm, Nantucket's oldest farm, has sold produce and flowers from a truck on Main daily during the summer since the 1930s; a monument to Mr. June Bartlett stands on the west side of the street
• Main Street home to local celebrations: Daffodil Festival with antique car show, Fourth of July Parade, Halloween Parade, Christmas Stroll with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas Eve raffle

Washington Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri

Designated area

Fifteen blocks between Eads Bridge to the east and 18th Street to the west.

Summary

The view west, from the foot of the Eads Bridge, is of an urban canyon lined with showcase buildings that create a distinctive sense of place through their attitude, size, scale, and materials.

The avenue's building stock reveals the artistic considerations that figured prominently in the creation of buildings that often served as both corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities. The impressive architecture and scale of the avenue reflects the rich history of St. Louis, a city once on the nation's western fringe that grew to become an industrial powerhouse and population center of national significance.

Washington Avenue gradually lost its vitality because of a decline in domestic garment production following World War II. Its functionally obsolete buildings stood vacant or underused. In the 1980s, loft rehabbers arrived but, unable to create a sense of community or security, their attempts to spark an economic revival of the area fell short. However, a move to list two segments of the street on the National Register succeeded in 1987.

It was the State of Missouri's 1998 adoption of a historic rehabilitation tax credit that resuscitated Washington Avenue by making large-scale reuse projects financially feasible. Investment — more than $100 million — poured in soon after. Meanwhile, the city began implementing its 1999 Downtown Now! Development Action Plan, focusing first on Washington Avenue's streetscape. Using $17 million in state and federal funds, it expanded public amenities, installed custom lighting, added and improved street furnishings, and enhanced landscaping and sidewalks.

Innovative pavement types were varied to calm traffic. A zipper-and-stitch-like paving pattern down the center of Washington Avenue — highlighted at night by LED-lit buttons — pays tribute to the history of the garment district.

Pedestrian-friendly Washington Avenue is popular with bicyclists, dog walkers, and stroller pushers as well. The street maintains a shared-use bicycle lane and is part of the city's bicycle network. Two subterranean light rail stations serve the street — one at the historic Eads Bridge and the other at 6th Street. A "curbless" stretch between Tucker Boulevard and 14th Street gives the appearance of an unimpeded civic space, lending itself to street festivals and celebrations. An increasing number of Washington Avenue's buildings boast large, elaborate, colorfully lighted signs. The street is punctuated each night with neon, boldly declaring its vitality.

Historic heritage

• Originally called North "F" Street, and then Laurel to match the downtown convention of naming east-west roads after trees, street's name was changed again in 1835 when private owner donated street to city with proviso it honor President George Washington
• Established as distribution and jobbing center for East Coast goods at close of Civil War
• Evolved as hub of city's wholesale and light manufacturing industries. Companies — some of national/international prominence — produced dry goods, shoes, clothes
• As city's historic center of commerce and home to dozens of historic structures, Washington Avenue runs through heart of two National Register districts (est. 1987)
• Buildings retain fashion industry naming conventions — Bee Hat, Knickerbocker, Fashion Square
• LED-lit median down street's center highlights zipper-and-stitch paving pattern in a bow to Washington Avenue's garment-district legacy

Planning and design

• Platted (1823) by private owner as "a major artery for the city," Washington Avenue was originally 80 feet wide and 1.5 miles long
• Eads Bridge, first bridge to span Mississippi River at St. Louis (1874), is start of Washington Avenue; location reflected street's prominence as burgeoning commercial corridor and ability to accommodate traffic
• Avenue evolves organically from east to west; individual blocks have own character but unified by size, scale, materials; from turn-of-the-century revival style masonry buildings to steel-and-concrete frame structures expressing Chicago School functionalist principles
• City's Downtown Now! Development Action Plan (adopted 1999) identifies Washington Avenue as one of four focus areas; resulting $17 million streetscape project expands public spaces for café seating, public art and street performances; enhances linkages to adjacent destinations; installs street furnishings, custom lighting; enhances landscaping, sidewalks; traffic calming
• Missouri Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (1998) spurs major reuse projects totaling more than $100 million along avenue; 25 percent credit for qualifying rehabilitation expenditures
• Removing three-story skybridge between 6th and 7th Streets reconnects that segment of Washington Avenue with downtown; unobstructed view between Eads Bridge and 18th Street

Mix of uses

• Loft development begins in early 1980s. Lack of financial incentives, safety concerns slow progress; development takes off following passage of tax credit (1998)
• Downtown, centered on Washington Avenue, sees residential base climb to around 8,000; purveyors of goods and services open street-level shops and restaurants
• Avenue is part of major employment center, close to civic buildings, convention center, sports stadia; 80,000-plus office workers and millions of tourists a year support restaurants, nightclubs, boutiques
• City Museum — interactive Exploratorium for all ages – opened in 1997 in former shoe factory; attracts more than 700,000 visitors annually.

Accessibility

• Pedestrian experience enhanced by street-level retail and public open spaces. Wide sidewalks encourage walking.
• Shared-use bicycle lane is part of Bike St. Louis, city's extensive 70-mile bicycle network
• Washington Avenue served by two underground MetroLink light rail stations, one at Eads Bridge and another at 6th Street
• Downtown Trolley, a circulator bus, connects Washington Avenue with other downtown attractions; bus routes also cross or travel along street

Market Square (Market St, Congress St, Pleasant St.), Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Designated area

Market Street and Market Square, which includes Market Square, Market Street between Deer Street and Market Square; Pleasant Street between State Street and Market Square; and Congress Street between Chestnut Street and Market Square.

Summary

The city also took meaningful planning steps and followed through with implementation. Measures were designed to ensure the vitality of street-level businesses and to protect valuable historic properties including North Church, a beacon of Portsmouth visible from most city vantage points.

A key step in Portsmouth's recovery efforts was the revitalization of Market Square beginning in 1978. Once the site of a military training ground, a meeting house, and New Hampshire's colonial legislature, the renovated Square features wide brick sidewalks, benches, trees and a fountain. Today Market Square is "arguably the busiest intersection in all of Portsmouth," notes local blogger and photographer Philip Cohen, filled with pedestrians, buses, and cars against a backdrop of architecturally distinctive buildings, each with its own history.

Revitalization, preservation

• Market Square and adjoining streets part of the local Historic District, which preserves integrity and special character of the downtown
• A Downtown Overlay District, created in 2006 and encompassing Market Square and adjoining streets, prohibits ground-level residential use and controls location of off-street parking facilities to ensure street-level vitality
• New mixed-use building at the corner of Congress and Church Streets (6-16 Congress Street, built 2006) houses retail stores, offices, and condos; exemplifies success of Historic District design review measures
• City Council policy is to construct and maintain brick sidewalks throughout historic district, with wide sidewalks and plazas in Market Square and on Pleasant and Congress Streets

Historic architecture, modern uses

• Market Street and Market Square feature consistent, 19th century architecture; brick Federalist stores and townhouses built after devastating fire; led city to establish fire district with brick and slate roof construction requirements
• Market Street features cast-iron storefronts installed in the mid-1800s; Merchants Row (c. 1803, Market Street west of Bow Street), regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of early 19th century commercial blocks
• Congress Street blends historic and modern architecture and design; existing buildings reflect 19th and 20th century character
• Federal-style Athenaeum (c. 1805, 9 Market Square) is a nonprofit membership library and reading room established in 1817; includes exhibits, extensive local history collection, research library; open to the public
• North Church (c. 1854, 2 Congress St.) replaced a 1713 meeting house; steeple can be seen from almost any point in the city
• Bankers Row (2 Pleasant St.) once home to oldest bank building in U.S.; original 1803 structure destroyed by fire, portions remain from 1869; large dome added 1904; now houses popular Irish pub
• Old Custom and Post Office House (c. 1860, Pleasant Street at State Street) designed by Ammi B. Young, first U.S. Treasury Supervising Architect
• Moffatt-Ladd House (c. 1763, 154 Market St.) built in Georgian style and a National Historic Landmark; open to public as house museum since 1912
• Moffatt-Ladd Coach House (next to main house), one of few surviving 18th century warehouses, preserved and restored in 2009; serves as a venue for New Hampshire Film Festival screenings and other public and private events

Street scene, activities

• Benches in Market Square and on Congress Street invite people to linger; flowers and a fountain provide visual interest
• Brick crosswalks calm traffic and increase pedestrian comfort and safety
• Several bus lines, seasonal downtown bus loop, and bike racks serving Market Square provide multiple options for residents and visitors to access downtown
• Market Square annual events include Children's Day (May), Market Square Day (June), Summer in the Street (June-August), Christmas parade and tree lighting, First Night (New Year's Eve), foot and bicycle races, art exhibits, film festivals, and seasonal concerts

Community pride

• Portsmouth Harbour Trail and Portsmouth Black History Trail wind through Market Square and adjoining streets; both celebrate local history
• Market Square seat of colonial government from 1758-1776; site of New Hampshire State House
• Two treaties commemorated in Market Square: 1713 Treaty of Portsmouth temporarily ended conflict between Abenaki Indians and English settlements; 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth ended Russo-Japanese War
• Seasonal horse and carriage rides depart from Market Square
• ProPortsmouth, Inc., established in 1977 with first production of Market Square Day; annual festival celebrating renovation and beautification of downtown Portsmouth hosts 60,000-80,000 people

Davis Street, Culpeper, Virginia

Designated area

Three blocks between Commerce and West Streets.

Summary

Davis Street is the geographic and figurative heart of Culpeper. Grand oak trees outside the Visitors Center and train depot frame Davis Street, inviting out-of-towners and Amtrak travelers to explore the street's independent shops and restaurants. Offices, second-floor apartments, and community events draw residents to the street.

Davis Street rebounded, the town says, in large part from small business owners who believed in the street's potential and remained open despite worries that prolonged restoration work would be bad for business. The results speak for themselves: no vacant lots and an ample supply of willing tenants for the rare available lease. The business owners also have collected the histories of each building along Davis Street, showcasing the evolution of the office, retail, and residential spaces before and after revitalization.

Partnerships between the town, state, Chamber of Commerce, and other public and private entities have ensured support for continued revitalization of Davis Street and the historic district, most notably through the Virginia Main Street Program administered by Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. Since Main Street designation in 1988, Culpeper has been recognized with milestone awards for achieving $40 million of private investment and 25,000 volunteer hours.

Through historic district guidelines and grants, the town has improved building facades, buried utility wires, planted trees and flower boxes, and installed benches and historic street lamps. The most recent Culpeper plan, approved in 2007, calls for additional revitalization and infill of the historic downtown in order to expand the successful pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use character of Davis Street to other parts of downtown.

Planning and Revitalization

• Historic District established in 1982 and added to the National Register in 1987; intersection of Davis and Main Streets — principal intersection since town's founding — is center of district
• Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. (CRI) formed in 1987 to administer Virginia Main Street Community program
• $4 million bond in 1988 initiated downtown restoration; started with burying utility lines, adding sidewalks and historic street lamps
• $700,000 Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development grant used to rehabilitate historic train depot in 1999
• $700,000 Community Development Block Grant matched with private developer funds in 2001 to remove blight, restore storefronts, improve streetscapes in 200 block of East Davis Street
• Architectural Review Board ensures compatibility with early 20th century buildings; massive fire led to ordinance requiring brick or stone construction
• 2007 Design Plan derived from community visioning process calling for a more pedestrian-friendly, smart growth-oriented downtown
• Arts and Cultural District Overlay approved 2010; offers tax incentives to arts-related businesses locating on Davis Street
• Current efforts include adding landscaping, signage, lighting to pedestrian alleyways that connect Davis Street to businesses and off-site parking

Community Engagement

• Unused freight portion of Culpeper Depot turned into multi-purpose community facility in 2001; houses Visitors Center, Chamber of Commerce, Department of Tourism, conference space
• More than 2,700 volunteer hours contributed through Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. during 2010 alone for special events, beautification, in-kind services, and downtown revitalization meetings
• Davis Street is historical gathering place in town; in 1953, street hosted "Operation Skyglow" where residents celebrated lighting of street lamps; 1,254-foot banquet table set up on street set Guinness World Record

Street Activity

• Pocket park and plaza created as part of train depot revitalization; used for popular farmers market, summer concerts, community events
• Mix of residences, small inns, shops, offices, restaurants and pubs generates activity along Davis Street throughout the week and weekends
• Annual Taste of Culpeper features a wine, food and arts festival held along Davis Street
• Street accessible by trolley, local bus, and Amtrak; nearly 9,000 train passengers in 2010 used Culpeper station, which connects to New Orleans, Chicago, and Boston via the Crescent, Cardinal, and Northeast regional lines
• Wide sidewalks provide room for pedestrians, outdoor dining, bike racks

King Street, Alexandria, VA

Designated area

Twenty blocks between the Potomac River to the east and the King Street Metrorail Station to the west.

Summary

Approval of special zoning in 2005 and 2007 encouraged a mix of businesses and outdoor dining, which help foster activity along the street and prevent concentrations of any one type of business.

At the western end of King Street, beyond the historic district, is a Metrorail station built in 1983. While this part of the street has a larger scale, a 1992 plan led to redevelopment from low-scale warehouses, an auto dealership, and surface parking to offices, hotels, restaurants, and infill commercial development. The resulting transition area, with moderate building height restrictions and a wayfinding system installed in 2008, guides visitors to Old Town by foot or a free trolley service.

With its attractive mix of dining, retail, and other attractions for residents and visitors alike, King Street continues as an economic center and gathering place for the City of Alexandria – a role it has served since George Washington drew early plats for the street in 1749.

Two centuries of history

• Ceded with the City of Alexandria to form the District of Columbia in 1801, King Street suffered neglect until Alexandria returned to Virginia in 1847
• Union occupation of Alexandria during Civil War prevented the destruction of many of the buildings, including those along King Street
• The Second Empire-style Alexandria City Hall (301 King Street), built in 1871, features a clocktower based on a 1817 design by U.S. Capitol architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe
• Burke and Herbert Bank (100 South Fairfax Street), built 1906, demonstrates early 20th century Vernacular Classical architecture
• Torpedo Factory Art Center on the waterfront (corner of North Union and King Street) built as World War I armaments factory; converted to artists' studios in 1970s; today houses more than 165 artists and yearly attracts 500,000 visitors

Planning and preservation

• Archeological Protection Code adopted in 1989 was first of its kind for a U.S. city; requires evaluation of development projects for impact on archeological resources and to reduce loss of cultural heritage sites, objects
• Alexandria Master Plan (1992) included the King Street Metro Station Small Area Plan, which implemented transit-oriented development near Metro station; Old Town Small Area Plan balances shops and dining along street
• King Street Retail Zone (2005) provides regulatory flexibility that encourages a balance of retail, residential, and commercial uses yet ensures King Street feels and functions as a downtown "Main Street"
• King Street Outdoor Dining Overlay Zone (2007) encourages outdoor dining, standardized guidelines, streamlined approval; most restaurants now offer seasonal outdoor dining, contributing to vibrancy found here
• Proposed Waterfront Plan (draft introduced February 2011) includes reducing frequent flooding at popular intersection of King and Union Streets; plan would reduce waterfront flooding from 150 to 10-15 times a year

Transportation connections

• Compact blocks, attractive sidewalks, interesting storefronts, visible crosswalks contribute to street's walkability
• King Street Metro station also transfer area to buses, Amtrak, commuter rail
• Free King Street Trolley provides service between Metro Station and waterfront every 15 minutes from 11:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.
• Street bisected by 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail, connecting Mount Vernon, Washington, D.C., and Alexandria's West End; bicycle racks on every block
• Water taxis service crosses Potomac River from eastern end of King Street to the new town center of National Harbor, Maryland

Authentic and eclectic character

• 18th and 19th century buildings, preserved through strict architectural and demolition control, provide visual variety along streetscape
• Market Square at Alexandria City Hall (301 King St.) has one of oldest continuously operating U.S. farmers markets — produce from Mount Vernon once sold here; also site for concerts, festivals, community events
• Area closest to Metro is fastest growing residential area of Old Town; weekly farmers market held across from Metro at King Street Garden Park, which features a sculptural trellis representative of Alexandria's colonial history
• Commanding views from western portion of King Street of 333-foot tall George Washington Masonic National Memorial located just beyond Metrorail station; divided Metrorail station roof canopy preserves view
• Of 300 retail businesses along King Street and adjacent blocks, 77 percent are independent; 14 percent are national chains

Downtown Woodstock Streetscape, Woodstock, Vermont

Designated area

North and South Park Streets, one block of Elm Street between Pleasant and Central streets; and two blocks of Central Street between Pleasant, North Park, and South Park streets.

Summary

Also near The Green, at the intersection of North Park Street and Mountain Avenue, is Middle Covered Bridge over the Ottauquechee River.

In addition to contributing to Woodstock's historic character, North Park, South Park, and Central streets also carry the traffic of U.S. Route 4 — without the aid or benefit of any traffic lights, says Woodstock town planner Michael Brands, AICP.

Steps to protect Woodstock's historic and scenic character go back several decades. They began with Laurence Rockefeller, grandson of John D. Rockefeller, who in 1968 rebuilt the aging 1890s Woodstock Inn located on The Green. The town's 1980 design review regulations — written by two residents with help of a former New York City planning director — were the first in Vermont. In 1992, Woodstock adopted an ordinance establishing scenic ridgeline districts to ensure that vistas visible from downtown would not be compromised.

Against views of the heavily forested Mt. Tom to the north and Mt. Peg to the south, Woodstock's downtown streets attract residents and visitors alike, to watch a Memorial Day or Wassail Weekend parade, run an errand, or go shopping.

Planning, historic preservation

• Woodstock Village was chartered in 1761; village historic district, including four downtown streets, added to National Register of Historic Places in 1973
• Town of Woodstock adopted ordinance creating Scenic Ridgeline Districts in order to protect the aesthetic and scenic character of the town's primary ridgelines and hillsides; ordinance most recently updated in 2007
• Central Street historically home to linseed oil mill, taverns, hotels, and residences; rebuilt after major fires in 1860 and 1867
• Homes along Central, Elm, and The Green mostly Federal and Greek Revival styles; oldest buildings, all on Elm Street, include the Dana House (1807), First Congregational Church (1808), and three-story building (1810) occupied by the F.H. Gillingham General Store
• 2006 Village Center Designation from State of Vermont created district for tax credits and other state-provided incentives for smart growth development along the four downtown streets and other areas of Woodstock historic district

Balancing highway and local traffic

• U.S. Route 4 (Central Street) is a major central Vermont highway used by trucks, tour buses, cars
• While Route 4 is state-regulated, Village of Woodstock controls portions through town; village able to close Central, North Park, and South Park streets to traffic for special events
• Central Street redesigned and resurfaced in 2009; sidewalk crossing bump-outs installed and crossings repainted with bold white reflecting schemes to increase pedestrian safety
• Free trolley during summer months powered by electricity generated from cow waste from local farms; trolley reduces traffic along Central Street and provides service to nearby national park, farm, museum

Parks, varied streetscape

• Central Street bordered by two public spaces, Tribou Park to the east and the Woodstock Village Town Green to the west
• Teagle's Landing, a pocket park on Central Street, provides quiet picnic space along Kedron Brook, steps away from shopping and restaurants
• Streets define classic 19th century New England town center; easily walkable downtown with a village green and mix of three-story buildings used for retail on first floor, office space on second floor, housing on third floor
• "Town Crier" blackboard along Central Street continuously updated to share local events, activities, news
• Woodstock Business Alliance has helped fund light post hanging baskets and free public Wi-Fi (established 2010) along streets; power lines buried in historic district
• Corridor Street Tree Master Plan (1994) for Route 4 lists every tree along Central Street; sets goals for maintenance and planting of new trees; village tree warden assures tree health