Vibrant Village ™

Placing surface parking lots in your downtown is like placing a toilet in your living room

-- unknown author

Courthouse could have become a parking lot

I'd read about about it.  Wondered about it.  Saw how many enjoyed it.  But not until I put my own feet on Hendersonville's Main Street, did I experience it for my own.

And you know something?  It was wonderful

I was in Vibrant Village heaven.  Hendersonville's Main Street was all I'd hoped for, all I'd dreamt about. For you see, as Enrique Peñalosa (an expert on designing world-class cities and former Mayor of Bogotá), has said, “God made us walking animals—pedestrians. As a fish needs to swim, a bird to fly, a deer to run, we need to walk, not in order to survive, but to be happy. ”

Hendersonville 1890

Maybe that's why Hendersonville's Main Street felt so pleasing.  I could walk; I didn't feel threatened by speeding traffic. Here on Main Street, I got to experience the principles of traffic calming. It worked, and it worked well.  Gentle serpentine curves, bump-outs, planters and wide sidewalks slowed car traffic. As a  pedestrian, I found traffic calming had created a peaceful co-existence with cars as they made their way down the street.  A torrent of traffic was now a trickle. Four lanes of traffic had been reduced to two. Drivers needing to get places in a hurry tended to choose other streets.

Hendersonville's calm traffic made me feel welcomed

Everything had been done to create a place that made a happy habitat for humans.  And a friendly place, for this Main Street proved an  easy place to strike up a conversation with walkers and shopkeepers.  I'd never found such easy human contact in malls.

Hendersonville in 1916

All ages were found here—dog walkers, young families pushing baby strollers, elders walking hand in hand, young people gathered in groups.  I'd rarely seen such a friendly scene outside of plazas in Mexico and Italy.  It was mighty refreshing.

Hendersonville in 1934

This street evoked so many fond memories. It reminded me of my childhood town's Main Street--one that's since vanished, done in by shopping malls and big box stores.  But not here.  Not in Hendersonville.

Who, I wondered, had been responsible for creating such a wonderful and welcoming downtown?

Main Street Gets Malled

I discovered the picture wasn't quite so rosy back in 1983.  That's the year the Blue Ridge Mall opened.  Main Street's retail business began a real slump. Empty stores appeared. The downtown easily could have faded, its business lost to big box stores and acres of parking.  But no, the townspeople and retailers cared too much.

One solution was the formation of Downtown Hendersonville Inc. (DHI) in 1985.   Among their many achievements were lighting the roof lines, a Christmas wreath program, installation of Colonial light fixtures—and all those blooming flowers and comfy benches for gathering.

One building caught my attention right away--the striking and cheery yellow antique courthouse.  What a sweet classic. Its generous plaza and pretty curved dome invited the eye. The nobility of its design spoke of stability and charm.

But this was a building that almost wasn't.  There had been discussions to tear down the 1904 building and put up a parking lot.

Along came Jones, Dr. George A. Jones

A gentleman named Dr. George A. Jones didn't think tearing down the courthouse was a good idea. Not at all. He said “No sir, we're going to restore it.  We'd found the original architectural drawings, and I was determined our courthouse would be restored back to its original condition—with some necessary improvements—like bathrooms.”

That sounded like a big job. How was this feat accomplished? The question earned a chuckle from Doctor Jones. He replied, “By twisting the county commissioners' arms 'out of shape,' issuing bonds and raising $11 million dollars.”

Thanks to Dr Jones and others who valued the building, the courthouse now stands, gleaming in the sun.  Even better than before with modern bathrooms and elevators.  Within, many town needs are met, including a popular 'community room' that seats 150.  A higher purpose, a better concept than an expanse of oil-stained asphalt for parking  cars.

Came home just in time

A Hendersonville native, Dr. Jones had spent years away from his hometown but returned home 27 years ago at a time when the town needed his wisdom the most. He has high regard for Main Streets and says, “The Main Street of any town represents the heartbeat of that town.  They represent the past, present—and future.  They're visible evidence of former lives and tell you a lot about your ancestors. Strip malls do not have a life of their own.”

Now in his 90th year, Dr. Jones continues to give back to the community he loves.  He now heads the Genealogical Association and recently co-authored a book: A Guide to Historic Henderson County.

Many other people and several organizations played pivotal roles in saving Main Street.  I wish there were space to salute each of them for their vision and dedication. Committees championed  festivals and museums with great success. The hugely popular Apple Festival, for example.  It's grown into the 7th biggest festival in the U.S.

The Mineral and Lapidary Museum is thriving and adding to their collections and exhibits.  This Main Street museum attracts 100,000 annual visitors.  Kids love the minerals that glow in the dark, the  gigantic T-Rex head, and the dinosaur nest with six dinosaur eggs. The museum's housed in a re-purposed old bank building.

A retail mix for everyone

What a lively street is this Main Street of Hendersonville. It offers, among its vibrant retail mix, an old-time soda fountain, a coffee café where people gather and performances are held, a well-stocked music store, several  toy shops, including one that displays antique toys in its windows, and a general store where 'if you don't find it here, you don't need it.'  Clothing stores, antiques, contemporary furniture, art galleries, pubs...so many wonderful possibilities.  A dedicated skateboard shop appeals to young shoppers.

Seems the town offers something for everyone. More than a dozen tempting eateries serve up eclectic dining options. I tried to sample most of them.  I missed a few, will have to return to correct that.

Talking the walk

My personal love affair with Hendersonville began to bud when I discovered a downtown that placed pedestrians above cars. As Lewis Mumford, the American historian and philosopher said, “Forget the damned motor car and build the cities for lovers and friends.”

Hendersonville has done just that. And done it exceedingly well.

Economically vital, attracting newcomers, and growing in smart growth ways, the town truly attracts lovers and friends—and new business. Makes sense.  People spend money.

Cars?

They always demand more expensive infrastructure, give little back, and catering to them solves little.

Glen Hemistra, a futurist and advocate of walkable communities nailed it when he said,  “Adding lanes to solve traffic congestion is like loosening your belt to solve obesity.”

Vibrant Village salutes the town of Hendersonville for putting cars on a reducing diet and putting people's health first. A feat wisely executed: putting feet on Main Street.

Dr. George A. Jones'  Tips on Creating a Vibrant Main Street:

1. Assess your needs:  what does your Main Street need?  To fill up empty storefronts, facade and signage improvements?  Traffic calming?
2. Go visit other towns with successful Main Streets.  What worked for them that can work for you?
3. Put flower boxes on every corner.  You'll need a good Flower committee to do this.  We collect a special downtown tax to finance our flower program.
4. Get your Chamber of Commerce behind you to pursue business attraction to Main Street.
5. Establish guidelines for buildings.  No building on our Main Street can be taller than 100 feet, which is the height of the courthouse dome.
6. from the author:  Form an active, grassroots revitalization group, utilize technical assistance from your state's Main Street program and from the National level.

Organizations that provide technical assistance and guidelines for Main Streets:

In North Carolina:  North Carolina Main Street Center

National level: National Trust for Historic Preservation

Photography credit: the photographs of the Hendersonville Main Street murals are courtesy of the Henderson County Genealogical and Historical Society.  The original murals are located in the History Center, 400 North Main Street, Hendersonville, North Carolina.

About the author...

Patricia Frank loves small towns. She's also the editor and publisher of Vibrant Village.  Whenever she can, she likes to visit and profile special towns that have achieved something wonderful.