Save the State:Save the State:Revitalizing Revitalizing

Downtown OwatonnaDowntown Owatonna

About our projectAbout our project

Began exploring Save the Began exploring Save the StateState

Committee had disbanded Committee had disbanded Further research showed us a Further research showed us a

larger issue needed to be larger issue needed to be addressedaddressed

What’s been What’s been happening to happening to downtown?downtown?

Before WWII, downtowns Before WWII, downtowns were the center of cities; were the center of cities; they were a primary they were a primary commercial and social spotcommercial and social spot Over the past 50 years, Over the past 50 years, downtowns across America downtowns across America have changed drastically due to:have changed drastically due to:

*interstate development-*interstate development-increased transportation between increased transportation between larger citieslarger cities

More that has changed More that has changed our downtowns…our downtowns…

*sprawl-brought *sprawl-brought people away from people away from downtowns, into downtowns, into suburbssuburbs

*white flight-*white flight-wealthier citizens wealthier citizens left urban centersleft urban centers

*bedroom *bedroom communities communities sprung up along sprung up along the interstatesthe interstates

More that has Changed More that has Changed Downtowns…Downtowns…

*more malls-took business away from downtowns

*neglect of buildings

More that has changed More that has changed our downtowns…our downtowns…

*presence of “super centers” where convenience has become more important than customer service to many consumers

Is downtown Owatonna Is downtown Owatonna suffering as much as suffering as much as downtowns on the national downtowns on the national level?level? According to local business According to local business

owners, downtown Owatonna is owners, downtown Owatonna is healthyhealthy– Owatonna ShoeOwatonna Shoe– St. Clair’s for MenSt. Clair’s for Men– Kristi’sKristi’s– Central Park Coffee Co.Central Park Coffee Co.

Continued…Continued…

But, the last official But, the last official study of downtown was study of downtown was done in 1991 (before done in 1991 (before many developments on many developments on the NW side of the NW side of Owatonna), and no Owatonna), and no current and official current and official statistics are statistics are available…available…

IsIsThisThis

AASignSignof of

Neglect?Neglect?

Our SurveyOur Survey

Since our community Since our community leaders couldn’t leaders couldn’t offer any current offer any current statistics, we statistics, we decided to survey decided to survey the public on our the public on our ownown

Distributed surveys Distributed surveys and collected data and collected data from 100 from 100 Owatonnans Owatonnans

Demographics Demographics Shopping habits Shopping habits Thoughts on the Thoughts on the

theatretheatre

Increased: 8.5 %

Decreased: 40%

Stayed Same: 51%

How has your shopping in downtown Owatonna changed with the developments on the NW side of town (Cabela’s, Super Wal-Mart, etc.)?

Yes72%

No2%

Unsure26%

Would you support the Would you support the renovation and renovation and reopening of the reopening of the downtown theatre?downtown theatre?

Yes: 74%

No:2%

Unsure: 24%

Do you believe a renovated Do you believe a renovated theatre would bring more theatre would bring more evening activity to downtown evening activity to downtown Owatonna?Owatonna?

Yes: 25%

No: 28%

Unsure: 47%

Would you be willing Would you be willing to contribute funds to to contribute funds to help renovate the help renovate the theatre?theatre?

Yes46%

No26%

Unsure28%

Would you support the Would you support the use of your tax dollars to use of your tax dollars to help renovate the help renovate the theatre?theatre?

National Statistics…National Statistics…

There was a lack of local and national There was a lack of local and national statistics on the health of downtownsstatistics on the health of downtowns

After e-mailing, we were still unable to After e-mailing, we were still unable to find local or national statisticsfind local or national statistics

National Statistics…National Statistics…

According to Dr. Kent Robertson, According to Dr. Kent Robertson, a regional economist and director a regional economist and director of Community Development of Community Development Program at St. Cloud State Program at St. Cloud State University, author of University, author of Can Small Can Small City Downtowns Remain Viable? A City Downtowns Remain Viable? A National Study of Development National Study of Development Issues and StrategiesIssues and Strategies,,

““Numbers are hard to find Numbers are hard to find because they don’t exist”because they don’t exist”

According to Dr. According to Dr. Robertson…Robertson… But, “our intuition is correct”But, “our intuition is correct” ““Thousands of communities, large Thousands of communities, large

and small, are trying to do the and small, are trying to do the same thing.”same thing.”

Owatonna needs Owatonna needs to follow the to follow the examples of examples of these these communities and communities and actively revitalize actively revitalize our downtownour downtownAustin, MN

Kenbridge, VirginiaKenbridge, Virginia

Population: 1264 Population: 1264 Improved and renovated downtown Improved and renovated downtown

buildings and building facadesbuildings and building facades Market analysisMarket analysis Replaced sidewalksReplaced sidewalks Planted trees in downtownPlanted trees in downtown Installed decorative streetlamps Installed decorative streetlamps Repaired/replaced curbs and guttersRepaired/replaced curbs and gutters Installed decorative trash receptaclesInstalled decorative trash receptacles

St. Paul, MinnesotaSt. Paul, Minnesota

Population: 287,151Population: 287,151 Built new offices and filled open onesBuilt new offices and filled open ones New hockey franchise New hockey franchise

and arenaand arena $140 million housing $140 million housing

developmentdevelopment $20 million renovation of Marshall $20 million renovation of Marshall

Field’s Field’s Self-sustaining flow of Self-sustaining flow of investmentinvestment

Where does the theatre Where does the theatre fit into this puzzle?fit into this puzzle?

If downtown Owatonna is If downtown Owatonna is suffering as we think it might be, suffering as we think it might be, the theater could have a positive the theater could have a positive impact on many aspects of its impact on many aspects of its healthhealth

*pedestrian traffic*pedestrian traffic

*decreased vacancies*decreased vacancies

*increased revenue*increased revenue

Can a theatre really help Can a theatre really help revitalize a downtown revitalize a downtown area?area? According to Tisha According to Tisha

Sheldon of the League Sheldon of the League of Historic American of Historic American Theatres, “We don’t Theatres, “We don’t have statistics to show have statistics to show how many communities how many communities have used historic have used historic theatres to revitalize theatres to revitalize their downtowns, but it their downtowns, but it must be at least a must be at least a thousand thus far.”thousand thus far.”

““It was only after many of these It was only after many of these downtown theatres were downtown theatres were restored and reopened that restored and reopened that people realized the significant people realized the significant economic impact they had on economic impact they had on the community.”the community.”

““Any perception of the Any perception of the downtown as either dangerous downtown as either dangerous or dead-as-a-doornail can be or dead-as-a-doornail can be overcome when more and overcome when more and more citizens spend their more citizens spend their evenings in the area.”evenings in the area.”

Lanesboro, MinnesotaLanesboro, Minnesota

Downtown falling apart: Downtown falling apart: – Residents moving outResidents moving out– Loss of vital local businessesLoss of vital local businesses

A theatre was opened by two New York A theatre was opened by two New York trained actorstrained actors

Inns and restaurants openedInns and restaurants opened Task force startedTask force started

Lanesboro, MinnesotaLanesboro, Minnesota

Now most goods Now most goods and services are and services are concentrated in concentrated in the central the central downtowndowntown

Tourist attractionTourist attraction Town’s economy Town’s economy

is boomingis booming

What’s next for the What’s next for the theatre?theatre?

Community support is necessary Community support is necessary for the theatre’s successfor the theatre’s success

Involvement of city officials and Involvement of city officials and community leaderscommunity leaders

Publicity throughout the greater Publicity throughout the greater Owatonna areaOwatonna area

The OACCT received estimates of The OACCT received estimates of the costs of renovating the theatrethe costs of renovating the theatre

RenovationRenovation AcquisitionAcquisition WiringWiring PlumbingPlumbing Finish carpentryFinish carpentry FlooringFlooring Technical Technical

equipmentequipment Re-create muralsRe-create murals

Concessions Concessions equipmentequipment

Personnel Personnel Permits/FeesPermits/Fees Curtains/PanelsCurtains/Panels FurnishingsFurnishings

Total price: over Total price: over $1,057,000 $1,057,000

Funding for the Funding for the theatretheatre

Areas:Areas: Local government Local government

contributionscontributions Local businessesLocal businesses Non-profitsNon-profits GrantsGrants FundraisingFundraising Private citizensPrivate citizens

Ponder this…Ponder this…

““Preservation isn’t something Preservation isn’t something smart people do when they can smart people do when they can afford it—it’s something they afford it—it’s something they know they can’t afford not to do.”know they can’t afford not to do.”

-National Trust for -National Trust for Historic PreservationHistoric Preservation