Design Services

A focus on design supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical elements of downtown while capitalizing on the unique assets that set the commercial district apart.
- The National Main Street Center
A focus on design supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical elements of downtown while capitalizing on the unique assets that set the commercial district apart.
- The National Main Street Center
Taking care of your architectural and environmental assets is a top priority for downtown economic success. We can help you with proven strategies and services to care for and expand these essential design features.
Examples of Design Services We Offer
Downtown Assessment and Action Plan
First impressions are key. It is important to look good, day and night. Georgia Downtowns will measure and recommend how to improve your downtown curb appeal in public areas. We will review and provide action steps for addressing downtown design and economic activity issues. Build partnerships at the same time.
Historic Preservation Policies
How will we take care of our treasures? A meaningful statement of philosophy is a useful tool to express and guide a downtown’s historic preservation efforts. We will work with you to craft a meaningful policy statement on historic preservation to help guide the work of your board, staff, and community partner agencies.
Façade Grant Program Implementation Plan
Small financial incentives can catalyze big investments by property owners and result in nicely restored and repaired commercial buildings. We can provide you with model documents for grant guidelines, application forms, and project close out documents. This program will help you leverage significant investments and beautiful buildings in your downtown.
Tree City Plan
Healthy and strategically placed downtown trees are essential for shopper comfort, as they provide shade during the summer, color in the fall, sculptures in the winter, and a fresh palette in the spring. We will help you protect and expand your downtown tree inventory, find grants, cultivate volunteers, improve curb appeal, build community support, and grow businesses.
Walk and Talk Program
We will work with your office and community partners to set up a "walk and talk" program, organizing and holding an on-site inspection and discussions that focus on the marketing of downtown. This program will engage all stakeholders during a two-hour inspection of the downtown area, followed by discussion of the findings – both positives and negatives- identifying those areas that need attention or those that represent the best of downtown. We will use gathered data and identified priority issues to create a tailored action plan.
Signature Design Asset Inventory and Promotion
We will survey your architectural and geographic icons, inventorying each one. We will present effective strategies to maximize their economic development potential.
Design Decision Guidelines
How can you help property owners to do the right thing? We will provide you with essential resources to help you and property owners make good decisions and do proper restorations and repairs of your downtown buildings.
Examples of Design Services We Offer
Downtown Assessment and Action Plan
First impressions are key. It is important to look good, day and night. Georgia Downtowns will measure and recommend how to improve your downtown curb appeal in public areas. We will review and provide action steps for addressing downtown design and economic activity issues. Build partnerships at the same time.
Historic Preservation Policies
How will we take care of our treasures? A meaningful statement of philosophy is a useful tool to express and guide a downtown’s historic preservation efforts. We will work with you to craft a meaningful policy statement on historic preservation to help guide the work of your board, staff, and community partner agencies.
Façade Grant Program Implementation Plan
Small financial incentives can catalyze big investments by property owners and result in nicely restored and repaired commercial buildings. We can provide you with model documents for grant guidelines, application forms, and project close out documents. This program will help you leverage significant investments and beautiful buildings in your downtown.
Tree City Plan
Healthy and strategically placed downtown trees are essential for shopper comfort, as they provide shade during the summer, color in the fall, sculptures in the winter, and a fresh palette in the spring. We will help you protect and expand your downtown tree inventory, find grants, cultivate volunteers, improve curb appeal, build community support, and grow businesses.
Walk and Talk Program
We will work with your office and community partners to set up a "walk and talk" program, organizing and holding an on-site inspection and discussions that focus on the marketing of downtown. This program will engage all stakeholders during a two-hour inspection of the downtown area, followed by discussion of the findings – both positives and negatives- identifying those areas that need attention or those that represent the best of downtown. We will use gathered data and identified priority issues to create a tailored action plan.
Signature Design Asset Inventory and Promotion
We will survey your architectural and geographic icons, inventorying each one. We will present effective strategies to maximize their economic development potential.
Design Decision Guidelines
How can you help property owners to do the right thing? We will provide you with essential resources to help you and property owners make good decisions and do proper restorations and repairs of your downtown buildings.