16 CITY OF FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE The road must possess one of the following characteristics: Provide access to historic resources, follow historic alignments, or highlight historic landscapes. Outstanding natural features along its borders, such as vegetation, tree stands, or stream valleys. Provide outstanding views of farm fields and rural landscape or buildings. There are no guidelines or standards in place to specifically protect these listed historic roads. Main Street Program The Main Street Program is a comprehensive, strategic public/private approach to downtown revitalization that encompasses organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring. Franklin has been a Main Street town since 1984. In 1995, Franklin was honored as one of the best downtowns in the nation when it received one of the five “Great American Main Street” awards in the first year of the annual national competition. Through a combination of public and private funds, approximately $3 million was invested along Franklin’s Main Street in the 1980s to improve facades and to add street trees, parking, appropriately scaled and styled furnishings, lighting, hanging planters, and banners. Upper story apartments were renovated, restaurants and shops opened, and pedestrian traffic increased significantly. Downtown retail businesses experienced a rebirth. However, in recent years markets have changed and downtown retail has a lot more competition in the region. Changing retail demands and retail development along the I-65 corridor have led to a gradual shift of more tourist-oriented offerings away from downtown. Markets for professional offices, partly drawn by the county courthouse, have increased pressure to convert first floor space from retail to office. While this provides building owners with rental income, office uses tend to damper the lively pedestrian environment in which retail store windows are a major component. There is concern about the long-term economic viability of Main Street. Economic Research Associates (ERA) recently completed a retail study of downtown, commissioned by Downtown Franklin Association and The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. ERA concluded that there is significant regional demand and opportunities to attract new retailers to the downtown shopping district that would service local residents. Retaining economic viability is an important precursor to preservation. Restoration and adaptive reuse retain the practical relevancy that historic resources have in a community. The Downtown Franklin Association (DFA) provides marketing and management services for Franklin’s Main Street program. Unlike many other Main Street communities across the country, Franklin’s Main Street does not currently receive funding support from the City. Franklin has benefited from participation in the Tennessee Main Street program, but state budget constraints eliminated the State Main Street program.
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