CULPEPER, Va. - Its renaissance approach to revitalization and old, small-town feel has earned Culpeper, Va. the prestigious 2012 "Great American Main Street" award.
Culpeper Mayor Chip Coleman often holds court in a chair in front of Raven's Coffee Shop on Davis Street, and waves to just about everyone who passes by. He says the town's revitalization over the last ten years has been a team effort between the town government and a non profit organization, Culpeper Renaissance Inc.
"It's been community leaders pulling together in a non-profit to make it work, and then the utilizing of tax credits," says Coleman.
Two full blocks of Davis Street and the part of Main Street that intersects is home to new, trendy stores mixed with old businesses such as Clarke Hardware. Many of the facades have been restored and most the retail establishments include second floors that have been converted into apartments where rents go from $800 to $1,000 per month.
1 comment:
It continues to perplex me as to why other towns can revitalize their downtown areas and Salisbruy can not, even after dumping thousands upon thousands of dollars into the effort. We are surrounded by towns such as Culpepper, Charlottesville, Berlin, New Hope, Easton, etc., who have done so successfully. It is easy to place the blame on several entities, but there just seems to be a roadblock to any kind of successful public/private partnership to get this done. With the University and other cultural icons in our area, there is no excuse.
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