From
The Director's Desk:
The
vision of revitalization is becoming a reality for the Luray
Downtown Initiative. The year of 2007 has proven to be the most
successful time period yet! Words can not adequately express the
tremendous momentum that the LDI has generated in our
community.
The
Community Development Block Grant has brought new streetscape
improvements, façade improvements and a structure improvement
loan pool to the Main Street area. The Façade Enhancement
Mini-Grant that was generated through the LDI has proven to be a
popular option for many business owners. Three businesses have
opted to partake in the loan pool totaling in $50,000 in financial
assistance granted thus far.
Once
spring had sprung, Main Street was filled with thousands of people
as they enjoyed the annual "Festival of Spring" that
included fine arts, crafts and Virginia wineries. Rumbles of
thunder in the distance didn't keep the crowd away from watching
the fireworks cascade over the Hawksbill Creek at the annual 4th
of July Family Funfest. The LDI was honored to host the Virginia
Main Street Summer Tool Kit Seminar that focused on Heritage
Tourism.
The
LDI held its third annual Cash Party fundraiser in September at
the Entrance Pavilion to Luray Caverns. This year's theme was
"On the Red Carpet." The LDI honored ten businesses in
the Main Street district with "Hawksbill" awards. These
awards were based on outstanding façade improvements that were
completed without the help of the CDBG grant program. This event
is the foundation underlying the tremendous fund-raising
activities of the LDI, and generated over $37,000 for the
organization this year.
In
its continual efforts to bring people into the downtown area, the
LDI has established community events such as the "Evenings on
Main" concert series, Halloween on the Greenway, a Business
Appreciation Reception honoring new businesses, the "Sparkles
and Sweets" downtown business showcase, and the Christmas
Community Appreciation Reception.
As
2007 closes, there have been several new businesses added to Main
Street, in addition to the relocation of businesses. LDI welcomed
the re-opening of the multi-million dollar restoration and
expansion project of the Mimslyn Inn. Court House Antiques doubled
their retail space by expanding into the building next door.
Valley Appliance and the Virginia Gift Shop have both relocated to
new buildings, but are still within the downtown district. The
downtown district welcomed these nine new businesses: ColorMax
Auto Body, Sweetwater Country Home, The Looking Glass, Laura's In
Luray, Gloria School of Music and Art, Country Primitives and
Crafts, Lost Apparitions Metal Shop, Custom Chopper Conversions
and Farmboys Diner. The Laurence Hotel has signage up for
commercial leases being available, and these will be wonderful
anchors for West Main Street in addition to the Mimslyn. Clearly,
our efforts for economic growth and development in the downtown
are well underway.
In
the New Year of 2008, the LDI will be working hard on the
completion of the Way finding Signage project, bringing more and
more visitors to the downtown and its associated events, and
getting more new businesses located into our rapidly blossoming
downtown area. There are already three prospective businesses for
early January.
LDI
Seizes National Opportunity for Exposure and Honor. LDI will be
sharing information about our very own Cash Party on a national
level! A session proposal for the National Main Street Conference
in Philadelphia: "Gala-zilla: Making Your Big Fundraising
Event a Monster Success" has been accepted. Presenters at
this national event will include LDI's Executive Director,
Catherine Stewart, along with the executive directors from
Harrisonburg and Warrenton. This is quite an honor to present
nationally, and an excellent opportunity to share information
about Downtown Luray!
Great
things are indeed happening in Downtown Luray, and even more
progress is imminent. We look forward to the New Year with pride
and enthusiasm!
- Catherine
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announcements
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2008 FESTIVAL OF
SPRING
- MARK YOUR
CALENDARS!
Get set for the 2008
Festival of Spring, scheduled for Saturday,
May 10, 2008.
Please note:
Our Festival is now fully booked. We are no longer accepting
vendor applications.
*****************************
**NEW**
Festival of Spring
Map & Directions
Download
Full-Size/Printable Map
NOTICE:
The center of Town is closed to through traffic during the
festival. The intersection of Main Street (211 Business E/W) and Broad
Street (U.S. 340 N/S) will be closed during the event. Please watch
for the parking and detour signs. There is a designated parking area
for handicapped individuals. If you have a question, please stop and
ask us. We hope to see you there!
DIRECTIONS: From I-81 (West): Take the New Market exit (Exit 264),
head East on US-211, turn LEFT at the second stoplight onto Old Valley
Pike/US-11/US-211. Travel north less than 1 mile. Turn RIGHT at the
stoplight onto US-211 East. Follow Route 211 East towards Luray, and
cross the mountain. Take the Luray/Front Royal Exit/US-340. At the
bottom of the ramp, turn RIGHT onto US-340 South, and follow into
Luray. It is approximately 15 miles from New Market to Luray.
From
I-66 (North) - Front Royal: Take the US-340/US-522 South exit (Exit 6)
at Front Royal, and follow through Front Royal, Limeton, Bentonville,
and Rileyville to Luray. Cross underneath US-211, and continue into
Town. It is approximately 25 miles from Front Royal to Luray.
From
Route 29 (South) - Charlottesville: Take US-29 North to Ruckersille.
At the intersection stoplight, turn LEFT onto US-33 West. Follow
through Stanardsville, across the mountain, and towards Elkton. At
Elkton, take the US-340 exit. At the bottom of the ramp, bear/turn
RIGHT onto US-340 North, and follow through the Town of Shenandoah. At
the juncture of US-340 and US-340 Bypass (just north of Newport), you
can* follow the US-340 By-Pass to US-211. Turn RIGHT onto US-211 East
and follow to Luray. Take the Luray/Front Royal/US-340 exit. At the
bottom of the ramp, turn RIGHT onto US-340 South, and follow into
Luray. It is approximately 22 miles from Elkton to Luray.
*
An alternate route is to follow US-340 North through the Town of
Stanley to Luray. This will bring you into the South entrance of
Luray. Please follow the posted signs.
From
Route 15/29 (East) - Warrenton: Follow Route 211 West, cross the
mountain, and continue toward Luray. Take the Luray/Front Royal/US-340
exit. At the bottom of the ramp, turn LEFT onto US-340 South, and
follow into Luray. It is approximately 43 miles from Warrenton to
Luray.
MAPQUEST:
Please type in "1 East Main Street, Luray, Virginia, 22835"
as the destination. This is at the heart of historic downtown, and
near the center of the festival. Join us!
5K
Participant Entry Form
Download
Now
Festival
of Spring Race Route: Race will begin in the Lord Fairfax
Community College Parking Lot on North Hawksbill Street. Runners
will exit the parking lot at the back of the building onto Hedge
Street, right to North Hawksbill Street, left to Rosser Drive,
immediate right up Rosser Drive, left to North Court Street, right
to Mechanic Street, continue on Mechanic Street to Ramey’s Auto
(turn around point) and repeat the same route back to parking lot.
Luray
Downtown Initiative receives
Virginia Main Street Milestone Award
On
Friday, March 21, Luray Downtown Initiative and the Town of Luray
was presented with a Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement
Award for $5 million in private investment contributed toward
downtown revitalization.
The
award was presented at the annual Virginia Main Street Milestone
Achievement Awards ceremony, this year held at the Jefferson Hotel
in Richmond, Va.
The
Honorable Patrick O. Gottschalk, Secretary of Commerce and Trade for
the Commonwealth of Virginia, addressed the attendees to the
luncheon, which acknowledged the achievements of Main Street
volunteers, local leaders, businesses, local governments and private
investors.
"The
revitalization of Virginia's downtown areas through the Virginia
Main Street program and the hard work and dedication of local staff
and volunteers is a key component of Virginia's overall economic
growth and strength," said Gottschalk.
Speakers
at the event included Lauren Adkins of the National Trust Main
Street Center, who spoke to the importance of building sustainable
communities in the face of dramatic demographic and other
changes.
Bill
Shelton, Director of the Department of Housing and Community
Development took part in the awards presentation and praised the
communities for their efforts to improve their downtowns.
"This
award is proof positive that the revitilization process in moving
full speed ahead in Downtown Luray and we look forward to the
continued success," said Catherine Stewart, Executive
Director.
In
addition to Luray, VMS recognized the following communities for
excellence as well: · Bedford · Berryville · Culpeper · Franklin
· Harrisonburg · Lynchburg · Manassas · Martinsville · Orange
· Radford · Rocky Mount · South Boston · Staunton · Warrenton
· Winchester
Currently
there are 21 designated Virginia Main Street communities: Abingdon,
Altavista, Bedford, Blackstone, Berryville, Culpeper, Franklin,
Harrisonburg, Luray, Lynchburg, Manassas, Marion, Martinsville,
Orange, Radford, Rocky Mount, South Boston, Staunton, Warrenton,
Waynesboro, and Winchester
The
Virginia Main Street program, managed by the Virginia Department of
Housing and Community Development, provides assistance and training
to help communities increase the economic vitality of their downtown
commercial districts. Virginia Main Street uses the National Main
Street model to help communities revitalize their downtowns by
focusing on their unique heritage and attributes. The program helps
communities implement a comprehensive revitalization strategy that
creates economic growth and pride in downtowns.
For
more information about the Virginia Main Street program, call (804)
371-7030 or visit their Web page at: www.dhcd.virginia.gov/MainStreet.
2008
Festival of Spring Antique Cars & Trains
Luray's
Festival of Spring event will feature antique Ford Model "T's
and "A"s from the following chapters: Shenandoah Racket-T-ers
of International Model T Club George Washington Model A Club along
with an exhibit of 2008 Roush Ford Mustangs from Marlow Ford.
Additionally, the event will feature a display of two operating
Model "G" gauge layouts along with a display of HO Scale
locomotives used by the old Norfolk & Western Railway brought to
us by the Page County Railroad Club.
2008
Duck Race Event
Luray
is hosting the 4th Annual Festival of Spring on 10 May 2008,
offering a great day of family fun to give Mothers a day out of the
house for Mother's Day. This year's Duck Races will start at 2:30PM
with the largest prize ever offered in our races…a 3-night getaway
for up to 8 people in a large house in Duck, North Carolina, valued
at $1000...with even more prizes for the next 9 ducks across the
line. Tickets to the $1000 grand prize race are priced at $5.00 each
and are available here
as well as at numerous businesses on Main Street, Luray. All
proceeds from the Duck Races will go to produce updated brochures
about Main Street businesses. Make sure to look for the Duck Race
booth at the festival because we will be selling duck tickets for 4
more duck races to be held on the hour after Grand Prize race.
APPALACHIAN
AIR CANINES 2008 FLYING FRISBEE FEST AS PART OF LURAY'S FESTIVAL OF
SPRING
Do
you have a dog that enjoys catching Frisbees? If so, then be sure to
grab Rover and head out to beautiful Luray, VA on Saturday, May 10th
as the Appalachian Air Canines present the 2008 Flying Frisbee Fest.
The event will take place at Bulldog Field in Luray (930 US Hwy 340
North) as part of Luray's Festival of Spring. Registration will open
at 9:00 am; competition begins at 10:00 am. There is a $10 entry fee
for each competing canine; admission is free for all spectators.
Novice and veteran competitors alike are encouraged to compete.
Custom Frisbees will be provided, as well as lots of ribbons and
prizes. Contestants and their canine teammates earn points for basic
throws and catches, with bonus points for mid-air catches in the
Toss/Fetch event. Rules, guidelines and directions can be found at
aircanines.com. The event welcomes mixed-breed as well as purebred
dogs. Families and friends are invited to enjoy this unique event
and applaud these talented canine athletes. Parking will be
available at Luray High School's Bulldog Field. The
event is sponsored by the Luray Downtown Initiative, Town of Luray
Appalachian Outdoors Adventures, Blue Mountain Vet, Mystic Pet
Resort, and Evergreen Outfitters
Evenings
on Main
Presented
by Luray Parks and Recreation Department & Luray Downtown
Initiative June 20, July 4, July 18 August 1, August 15, August 29
September 12, September 26 All concerts will be held on the Ruffner
Plaza- 7:00 p.m. Performers TBA Questions please call: Pat O'Brien
743-6475 or Catherine Stewart 743-7700.
Grand
Re-Opening of The Mimslyn Inn
The
Mimslyn Inn is back and ready for guests! A year has passed
since a "closed for renovations" sign appeared on the
Mimslyn Inn marquee located off West Main Street in Luray.
Looking back on the 365 days, millions of dollars, countless hours,
and numerous jobs created, The Mimslyn Inn is ready to celebrate and
opens to a black tie event.
Discover all of the new changes! [Download
Full Press Release]
Governor
Mark Warner Visits Luray
Mark
Warner took a tour through Luray on January 10th, 2008, led by LDI
Executive Director Catherine Stewart and LDI Vice President Starr
Johnson. The tour was held as part of Warner's “Hometown
Days” tour, which, while he was governor, received a grant worth
about $800,000 for downtown improvements in addition to receiving
its Virginia Main Street status. Warner was quoted in the
Daily News Record as saying: "Luray is a good example of a
community turning around. "It was in a pretty tough state
about four or five years ago." He cited the town as an
example of what can be done through local and state government
cooperation.
Luray
Downtown - Statistics & Information from Virginia Main Street
LDI
Seizes National Opportunity for Exposure and Honor
Congratulations
to LDI and all of our Downtown citizens and businesses! Soon,
we will be sharing information about our very special downtown
community on a national level! A session proposal for the
National Main Street Conference in Philadelphia: "Gala-zilla:
Making Your Big Fundraising Event a Monster Success"
has been accepted. Presenters at this national event will include
LDI’s Executive Director, Catherine Stewart, along with the
executive directors from Harrisonburg and Warrenton.
This
is quite an honor to present nationally and an excellent opportunity
to share information about our Downtown!
For
more information about this special event, click
here!
Luray
Honored during Virginia Downtown Development Association
Annual Awards of Excellence
The
Virginia Downtown Development Association (VDDA) 23rd Annual
Conference was held in Lynchburg, Virginia, October 3-5, 2007. The
conference was entitled 'Tackling Your Downtown's Biggest
Challenges' and addressed tough issues facing many Virginia
localities. VDDA's Annual Awards of Excellence dinner was also held
to recognize and encourage excellence in downtown revitalization
throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Luray was most fortunate to
receive an Award of Excellence for the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway. In
addition, Catherine was selected to serve on the Executive Board of
Directors for the VDDA as Secretary. Her three year term will begin
January 1, 2008. Visit their
website.
Download
press release
Third
Annual Cash Party Event a HUGE Success
The
Cash Party was a tremendous success once again! Despite a brief
thunderstorm , the evening was fabulous!
Congratulations to our winners who all agreed to split the
$10,000:
Emily Holder, Beth Painter, Page Valley Bank, Marlow Ford, Kitty
Purcell, Peggy Turner, Barbie Stombock, Gwynne Jewell, Beth Torrance
and Vic Dinon.
A
special thank you to Page Valley Bank for donating all of their
winnings back to LDI and to Marlow Ford for donating back half.
Mini-Grant Program
The Luray Downtown Initiative (LDI) has established a Facade
Renovation Grant program to provide financial assistance for
physical improvements to street-front facades at businesses located
within the boundaries of the Virginia Main Street (VMS) Downtown
District as established on July 27, 2004.
A Facade Renovation Grant may be used for such activities as:
- Exterior renovations (paint, corrective maintenance,
repointing masonry, etc.)
- Window, door, shutter repair/replacement
- Signage/lighting
- Awnings
- Landscaping
Or other exterior projects that the Design Committee Review Panel
deems acceptable. Facade Renovation Grants may not be used for
interior improvements except when such work is a necessary part of
approved facade renovation.
DOWNLOADS:
Program Guidelines & Participation Details
Application
Owner-Tenant Agreement Form
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