Title
Resolution Supporting the Phoebus Partnership and the Goals of its Main Street Program
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
City staff, in collaboration with the Phoebus Partnership, are seeking City Council approval for the designation of the Phoebus community as an Accredited Main Street community under the Main Street USA program. Phoebus is currently recognized as an Affiliate member of the program, and this designation will help to elevate its status, enabling greater access to resources and support for downtown revitalization.
Phoebus Partnership board members have been leading efforts to advance this designation since 2019 when they completed a strategic planning process facilitated by the Community Development Department. Over the past year, the Phoebus Partnership has hosted the Main Street USA team as they conducted a comprehensive assessment of the organization's progress. Phoebus has also received funding from the Hampton Roads Retail Alliance to support local businesses, as well as additional funding from the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development for the creation of a small area plan that will guide future connectivity and commercial revitalization efforts in Phoebus.
Discussion:
The designation of Phoebus as a Main Street community offers numerous benefits to the local economy and community well-being. The Main Street program is a proven framework for economic development, preservation, and community engagement, which will help Phoebus capitalize on its unique historical and cultural assets. This designation is intended to further enhance the vibrancy of the area, attracting new businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, and increasing foot traffic, thereby boosting local commerce and tourism.
The City’s primary role will involve ongoing support and collaboration with Phoebus Partnership, Inc., and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Main Street program.
Impact:
The proposed designation of Phoebus as a Main Street community aligns with the Council’s strategic goals outlined in the Community Plan, particularly those related to economic development, historic preservation, and community engagement. This initiative supports the broader objective of revitalizing the City’s historic neighborhoods, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting sustainable development.
Moreover, this action is consistent with master planning efforts for Phoebus, which emphasize creating a vibrant, mixed-use district that honors the community's historic character while fostering economic growth. The implementation of the small area plan, supported by the Main Street designation, will contribute to long-term sustainability and resilience in Phoebus, making it a model for other neighborhoods in Hampton.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve Resolution
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton supports the revitalization and economic redevelopment of the historic commercial core of Phoebus; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Phoebus have expressed a desire to maintain an economically vital and vibrant historic downtown for its residents, businesses, and tourists, as articulated in the Phoebus Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton views an economically healthy downtown Phoebus as one of its most critical assets, recognizing that a sustainable historic downtown economy contributes significantly to the city’s overall economic health; and
WHEREAS, the Phoebus Partnership is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been helping steward Phoebus toward similar goals since its incorporation in June, 1987, with plans to submit a formal application to elevate its status to an Advancing Virginia Main Street community and achieve National Main Street Accreditation in October 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Phoebus Partnership, operating autonomously as a Main Street organization, is dedicated to promoting the unique history, culture, and heritage of Phoebus while driving its economic revitalization; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton is committed to partnering with the Phoebus Partnership to achieve the economic and cultural goals of Phoebus while respecting the Partnership's autonomy in managing and directing its Main Street initiatives.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAMPTON CITY COUNCIL:
1. Supports the Phoebus Partnership's participation in the Virginia Main Street program at the Advancing Level as well as accreditation by Main Street America;
2. Agrees to continue working collaboratively with the Phoebus Partnership, dedicating in-kind contributions to create a successful downtown economic development program through strategies established by the National Main Street Center's Main Street Four-Point Approach; and
3. Agrees to maintain this commitment for a continuous term of years as necessary to achieve and exceed the Phoebus Partnership’s goals.