Emporia Main Street's DESIGN programs are run by a committee of volunteers along with Main Street staff. The goal of our design initiatives is to create a vibrant downtown commercial district by enhancing the district's physical and visual assets.
Our design programs work to improve downtown buildings, parking areas, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping. Our design programs also help individual business owners with building design, window display implementation, education, and advice. All design activities are focused on making downtown a welcoming place for residents and visitors, and a place for businesses to thrive.
Additionally, the Design Committee works to preserve the legacy and stories of the Downtown Historic District through a variety of historic preservation activities.
Design Programs
Adopt-a-Garden
Emporia's downtown gardens are all maintained by volunteers. If you love to garden, ask us how you can adopt one!
Historic Tax Credits
If you own property within Downtown Historic District, you may qualify for tax credits on maintenance, upgrades or redevelopment.
Veterans Banners
We honor our heroes every fall with a downtown display of over 200 light pole banners featuring area veterans.
Beyond the Banners
Beyond the Banners is a keepsake book that was created in response to the overwhelming popularity of our Veterans Banner Project.
Other Design Committe Projects
Want to support a vibrant downtown atmosphere?
Our design programs seek to create a pleasant, welcoming environment downtown, which draws shoppers, residents, and visitors. This ultimately benefits not just downtown, but our community as a whole.
Interested in joining the design committee?
The Design Committee perfect for creative types who are willing to their hands dirty, as well those who are interested in or knowledgable about Emporia's history. Click the button below if you'd like to join!
Design Education
20/20 Vision
Vision 2020 Emporia Main Street: Shaping the future of Emporia and Lyon County using re-development, rehabilitation and in-fill in the town center; making downtown a destination for dining, shopping, and entertainment; and facilitating traffic flow (pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle). Because the Emporia Main Street vision is more than words on a page, let’s break down specifically…
Continue Reading >The Far Ranging Impacts of Community Design
I recently had the opportunity to attend the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference held in Portland, Oregon. I was invited to speak by a federal “smart growth” agency because of some of the unique things we’ve accomplished in Emporia’s downtown through multiple types of sustainable development strategies. The New Partners conference is a little different in…
Continue Reading >2015 Emporia Main Street Annual Meeting
The Emporia Main Street Annual Meeting tends to emulate the organization itself. We have a group of super busy people that get together to honor productivity and offer thanks to those people making tangible improvements to the community, then we start working on making the future even better. This year’s tribute to Steve Hanschu made the…
Continue Reading >Emporia’s Art and Soul District
We’ve heard a lot about the “Black and Gold” District, but what about the other districts downtown? Emporia has an unusually long downtown for a community of our size. As a transportation hub at the intersection of a state and federal highway, and a community with a lot of great assets in our core, it…
Continue Reading >2014 In Review At Emporia Main Street
Emporia Main Street is a results oriented organization. The culture of measurable activities that push for community growth has been fostered by you, our membership, since the inception of the program in 1991. Each year, we look back briefly to assess what was accomplished during the calendar year, and we utilize your feedback to help…
Continue Reading >Chelsea Lofts Coming To Downtown!
Emporia Main Street Development Group, LLC announced a major new addition to downtown Emporia. The Chelsea Lofts, a new mixed use development containing nearly fifty residential units and 1,500 square feet of commercial space will locate in the 1000 Block of Commercial Street.The “U” shaped development will address Commercial Street with a minimal set back and…
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