Virginia Main Street and the Virginia Downtown Development Association have joined together to offer a combined training opportunity.  VMS is hosting their Spring Feature entitled ‘Lessons for a Livable Downtown’  on Wednesday, May 27th and VDDA is hosting their Annual Workshop entitled ‘Downtown Housing: Options & Opportunities’ on Thursday, May 28, 2009. Both events will be held from 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. at Cally’s Restaurant & Brewing Co. Banquet Room in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Registration is required.

Increased demand for downtown housing promises the next leap forward in the revitalization of historic downtowns. Young professionals, the 50+, pet owners, students - even those choosing to live without a car are all checking out the options. But does your downtown have what they're looking for?  Virginia Main Street’s Spring Feature will take a look at the amenities that can help foster an authentic community.   Contact www.dhcd.virginia.gov/mainstreet, or call (804) 371-7030 for more information. 

The Virginia Downtown Development Association’s “Downtown Housing” workshop will address downtown living with sessions on incentives & resources, affordable housing and housing for young professionals and the 50+.  An integral part of this program will be a site tour of several current – and very different - housing initiatives including upper story retail, historic property renovations and new construction implementing green elements both in construction and overall design.  VDDA’s sessions are eligible for AIA/CES credit. 

Contact www.downtownvirginia.org or call 434-238-0986 for more information.

Downtown Harrisonburg is undergoing a revitalization transformation.  Creating a livable downtown and increasing the number of people residing there has been an important part of Harrisonburg’s strategy and recent and upcoming projects will add over 350 living units, making Harrisonburg the perfect site to host this downtown housing program.  This event is planned in cooperation with Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and is made possible in part by the generous support of the VMS Spring Feature and VDDA Workshop Sponsors: Blue Ridge Design Studio, the City of Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Pinnacle Construction, Velocity Property Group, and VHDA as well as VDDA’s Annual Corporate Sponsors, ECS Mid-Atlantic and Monument Construction.

The Virginia Downtown Development Association is a statewide organization that promotes the significance of historic downtowns to Virginia’s economic vitality and enhances the effectiveness of organizations, individuals, and communities to foster vibrant downtown economic development.  Active membership is open to any individual business, organization or governmental unit involved in or interested in downtown revitalization. 

The VMS program, managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), works to revitalize Virginia’s historic downtowns by providing training and technical support to help Main Street communities improve and beautify their downtowns, and encourage private investment, business development, and tourism. 

For more information about local downtown revitalization efforts, contact Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance at (540) 432-8922 or go to www.downtownharrisonburg.org. 

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