How Lovington MainStreet came to be...
By: Becky Giffin
Executive Director
I got involved with Lovington MainStreet a little over a year ago. At that time all I really knew about the organization was it helped communities restore and revitalize their downtown areas. Which seemed exciting and interesting to me... for I'm a bulk trash little freak. I love making something from something that it wasn't! Over the course of the year, I have had the opportunity to become more active in the group and participate on state and national levels. And what I have learned and am still learning... simply blows me away!! I feel very fortunate to be associated and employeed by this organization.
For you see... It all started many moons ago with three individuals with a concern. On January 12, 1895, Octavia Hill, Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley founded the National Trust. The Duke of Westminster is referred to as a principal contributor in the effort as well. Early on the Trust's primary focus was on protecting open spaces and a variety of threatened buildings. Okay, so here we are in 2008... living in this fast-paced disposable world that we have created and it's hard for me to even comprehend someone having the insight to feel passionately about saving something 113 years ago! The founders of Lovington were busy building a whole new community at that time.
In 1947, the National Council for Historic Sites and Buildings launched the first efforts to form the National Trust of the United States. Later that same year the first national preservation conference was held in Washington D.C. with Harry Truman signing legislation creating the National Trust in 1949.
In the 70's we began experiencing the decline of our downtown areas. Malls were being built on outskirts of towns and the developement of suburbia USA was in full swing. The concern of continuing threats to traditional commercial architecture and the economic weakening of our downtowns spurred the National Trust to initiate a three year pilot project. This was designed to study the reasons so many downtowns were dying, identify the factors affecting downtown's health, and develop a comprehensive revitalization strategy to save the historical commercial buildings. Three communities were selected from 70 with populations ranging from 5,000 to 38,000. Galesburg, Ill., Madison, Ind., and Hot Springs, S.D. were assisted by the National Trust in the demonstration project, by an analysis of each downtown's assets and needs. These architectural and economic profiles, conducted by consultants under the direction of the Trust, served aa a basis for design improvements and economice revitalization strategies that would make it feasible to rehabilitate and reuse historic downtown buildings. Bird and Son, a manufacturing firm issued a grant, the Trust hired a full-time Main Street program manager for each community to serve as a catalyst for change.
Business improved in all three of the downtowns during the Main Street Project. Seven new businesses opened in Hot Springs, six in Madison and a whopping 30 in Galesburg. Sales tax revenues increased and the downtown occupancy rate in Galesburg climbed to 95 percent. Most importantly, tons of buildings were rehabilitated and used in productive ways, preserving important symbols of each community's unique hertiage for future generations.
In 1980, the Trust announced another demonstration project. This time six states were selected to participate allowing each state to choose 5 towns to serve as its initial Main Street network. The project ended in late 1983 with impressive results. By 1990, this coalition had grown to incluce 31 states and more than 600 communities. And to this day continues to grow with New Mexico adding two communities, Lovington and Deming, this past year.
This is an exciting time to be in Lovington, New Mexico. The potential in the our downtown area with our existing buildings exuding personality gives us the hope and vision necessary to create the change that the citzens of Lovington are welcoming. I have found that our community is not only passively ready for this change, but are willing to do what is required to make the change. There is a motivated energy out there circulating amongst us... grab some, roll up your sleeves and let's go!!
