Design Guidelines

 

Downtown Blackstone Inc.
P.O. Box 417
Blackstone, VA 23824
434-292-3041

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Design

This element of the Main Street Approach™ involves improving the physical environment by renovating buildings, constructing compatible new buildings, improving signs and merchandise displays, creating attractive and usable public spaces and ensuring that planning and zoning regulations support Main Street revitalization.

The Design Committee plays a key role in shaping the physical image of Main Street as a place attractive to shoppers, investors, business owners and visitors. To succeed this committee must persuade business owners, building owners and civic leaders to adopt a specific approach for physical improvements to buildings, businesses and public improvements. Specifically:

Chairperson: Louis Malon, APVA Preservation Virginia
804-1889 x307 lmalon@apva.org

Committee Members
Grace McDonald
Beth Winters
Debbie Yancey

Frankie Winn

SO FAR IN 2010

The Design Committee is focusing on getting the streets and the town clean and well maintained. A meeting with Councilman Tucker outlined some of the issues for the Streets and lights committee to look into. Other initiatives include implementing a block captain program and partnering with Rotary to address litter and downtown beautification.  The committee has been reviewing Frazier Associate schematics and plans for the space formerly known as the hole. We have re-dubbed it the Town Square. An 8 month extension was granted the town to get this area completed and the design of the space was the subject of great controversy in 2009.               

 

DESIGN COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Met on Tuesday, March 31st at 5:30pm. Paint selections were approved for

115-117 S. Main( Teefey & Teefey)

119 S. Main ( Nelms & Nelms)

121 N. Main (The Antiques Mall)

100 & 108 S. Main (Watkins Jewelers)

A sign request was approved from Bill Menting.

A request to install a door was approved for Nora Joyner.

The committee decided on a sign and Bracket request for DBi

A report complete with photographic documentation of litter and problem areas was reviewed.

Partnering with Rotary for Pick up your Pride Downtown Cleanup on May 9th was discussed.

April 14th( 6 Approvals 1 pending)

Colors and a sign request for 109 W. Broad St.-Gilmore Environmental

Sign Requests

107 W. Broad Street-DBi headquarters- Joe Allman

105 W. Broad Street-Fisher & Allman-Joe Allman

Colors Only:

Entry doors on 103 W. Broad & 14 S. Main St.-Dwayne Coffer

121 N. Main Street-Antiques Mall-Janette Baranishyn

119 South Main Street-David O. Nelms

Pending

Replacement window request-215 S. Main Street-Keith Robertson

April 28th/May 7th (4 Approvals)

Approved colors for:

110 S. Main Street-Gibbs Associates

106 N. Main Street-Candy Early

112 N. Main Street-Blackstone Emporium-Frankie Winn

100 N. Main, 101 E. Broad, 103 E. Broad-Spencers Drug-Frank Yancey

May 19 Approvals (9 Approvals 2 pending)

Colors

215 S. Main St. -Keith Robertson

115-117 S. Main Street cornice amendments-Teefey & Teefey-Joe Teefey

113 E. Broad Street-Winn Furniture Annex-Doug Coleburn

Pending

113-115 N. Main Street-Danny Sheffield

116 S. Main Street-Joe Cataldo

Signs

108 S. Main Street -Paul "Skip" Williams

112 N. Main Street-Blackstone Emporium-Frankie Winn

Awnings

110 South Street-Gibbs Associates

June 4 Approvals (6 Approvals)

Colors

116 South Main Street-match existing (Approved as submitted)

113-115 N. Main Street-Danny Sheffield's building (Approved as submitted)

120 E. Broad Street-J&L Renovations (formerly Leonard's cleaners)

Signs

302 South Main Street-I-sell store/Access Realty-Victoria Griffin (formerly Cavalier Cleaners)

306 S. Main Street-Trendsetter Clothing store-Michelle Wallace (formerly Epps Fashions)

Fence

101 S. Main Street-Blackstone Coffee & Bistro (approved as submitted)

A copy of the technical specifications for painting were delivered to the committee by the Executive Director. The Graffiti issue was discussed and maintaining a well kept town. Curb painting was also discussed and continuing the effort from where it left off at "Pick Up Our Pride" day.

June 18 (1 Approval, 1 pending)

Discussions

Curb painting-The Committee set Saturday, July 18th as the date to resume curb painting. Volunteers are needed and welcome! We will begin at 7 a.m. and see how far we get.

Maintenance issues-weed control and grass cutting as well as keeping the flower beds and medians looking well kept are challenges that we need to resolve.

Colors

126 S. Main Citizens bank (matching brick color on back of building-approved as submitted)

Sign Request

110 W. Broad Street (sign for a new embroidery business needs color sample-approval pending)

July 1st

No requests were brought forth so the committee revisited its workplans and made note of the progress made and did an update.

August 6th

Sign Request Approved

222 S. Main Street, Blackstone Realty hanging sign was approved

Colors Approved

Awning color for 113 E. Broad was approved as submitted

Plans approved

120 W. Broad Street (Facade B-the Brown Street side)

120 E. Broad Street (approved as submitted and released to go to DHR)

Awning issue

A letter will be sent to a company in order to urge them to correct a pucker and a sag that has developed in a recently installed awning.

Mural Concept

A concept was presented for a Mural for 111 W. Broad Street (Formerly Winn's Saw shop)

September 3rd

Awning selections were approved for 101 S. Main Street (Blackstone Coffee & Bistro)

A hanging sign was approved for 112 N. Main Street (Blackstone Emporium)

On hold

Color selections were reviewed for 300-306 S. Main. The committee tabled a final decision pending meeting with the property owner at the next available meeting.




 

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