Page 68 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2020

DOWNTOWNS
DOWNTOWNS story by Lynn Lofton
Cities have been trying to reshape their downtowns and draw crowds to these areas for a number of years. Attracting new businesses and
Millennials has been a major push.
John Harral, an attorney with the Butler Snow rm, has been active in the Gulfport Downtown Association since it began in 1995. “For so many who have worked hard to revitalize our downtowns, it has been disheartening to return to the scenes of empty streets and empty buildings of the pandemic quarantine,” he said. “Of course, this is a temporary condition and we have no doubt the thriving downtown business climate will return, indeed is now returning. My only fear is that some of our existing businesses may have been hit too hard by the quarantine to recover.”
Mississippi Main Street Association
State Coordinator Thomas Gregory is optimistic about the future of downtowns. “Although small businesses certainly took a nancial hit during the months of March, April, and May, we are optimistic that our local businesses will emerge stronger and better prepared to compete in the modern economy,” he said. “Many small businesses and local restaurants adapted their business models out of necessity to include online sales, curbside pickup, and delivery options. We are hearing that many of those same businesses feel that adding those service options will make them more competitive now and in the future.”
Harral says downtown living is always on the downtown wish list. “I’m sure it’s at the top of every Coast Main Street organization’s list today. So, Millennial, Baby Boomer or Gen X or whatever you might be, come and explore the delights of living downtown. In my experience,
attracting more downtown residents is
the most important goal any downtown should have for that is the key to reaching a downtown’s full potential.”
Gregory agrees, noting that Main Street communities have long sought to attract young adults to downtown areas because they bring fresh ideas and energy to downtown revitalization work. “In the past decade, Millennials were targeted because they were young, had some disposable income, and preferred living in a mixed-use district with access to retail and restaurant amenities that our downtowns often provide,” he said. “There is also a shift toward attracting the next generation – Generation Z – for the same reasons.”
Now, as the Millennial generation enters their 30s and begins raising families, there are e orts to keep them engaged by making downtowns more family friendly.
“Ideally, downtowns should support a
mix of uses, including restaurants, retail, commercial, and residential. By adding residential to their mix of uses, they create human activity around the clock, which
in turn improves public safety through increased ‘eyes on the street,’” Gregory said.
Among the state communities developing a strong downtown residential component, he listed Biloxi as “a great example of a community that has worked hard to add residential to their land use mix” noting they currently have two residential projects in the development stage that will add nearly 70 new units to their Main Street district.
68 | July 2020 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Reshaping
Ocean Springs
Moss Point
Pascagoula