By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – It may be quiet renovation and growth, but Slidell’s historic Olde Towne area is moving in the right direction, Main Street Director Sharon DeLong said.
It has been a long road for the historical beginning of Slidell to find the right combination of factors that will bring about a true revival in Olde Towne, but DeLong said the Olde Towne Slidell Main Street District is intent on pressing forward.
“One thing about change,” DeLong said. “It is slow to come and people find it hard to understand. But we have had the Main Street designation for six years and there has been some consistent movement in the right direction.”
Slidell joined with the national Main Street movement six years ago to align itself with a program offering direction to restore the historical areas of cities.
Since that time Olde Towne has brought in over $25 million in renovation dollars through local money or grants, has seen 82 new businesses open in Olde Towne that created 381 jobs, and held 228 events thanks to over 30,000 volunteer hours.
DeLong acknowledges the revitalization of Olde Towne is still a work in progress, but said there are more things on the horizon that may spark the business development that is wanted there.
The city has approval and the money designated for a “walkability” program, starting with a crosswalk at the corner of Front Street and Fremaux Avenue that will connect Heritage Park to Olde Towne. That is expected to be finished by the end of 2017 and will include sidewalks added and repaired in Olde Towne.
The Main Street program emphasizes historical preservation as its top goal, while also providing organization, promotion for the area and seeking economic development.
“I think there are certain businesses that could be the thing to spark more businesses setting up in Olde Towne,” DeLong said. “If we got more restaurants, maybe a bike shop so people could rent bikes and ride in the area, and other things to support the service industry it would help.”
She also said that for the area to become like a Covington or Ocean Springs historic district that has a vibrant weekend business and nightlife, “we need more businesses to stay open later.” But she agreed that the problem is getting more foot traffic in the area to warrant businesses staying open later.
DeLong brings excellent experience to the Main Street job after serving as director of the Chamber in Graham, Texas where she headed a Main Street program there.
She came to Slidell and headed the Slidell Art League, which also faced similar challenges for funding before the Chamber hired her to head the Main Street program in Slidell.
One big plus for the Olde Towne region is the purchase by the Chamber of the 1808 Front Street historic property which now offers an “Art MartketPlace” downstairs in the two-story building, with the Chamber offices operating out of the top floor. Over 30 local artists display their works for sale there.
“I think the Martketplace is one of the greatest things for Olde Towne and it is slowly getting known,” she said. “Many people still don’t know it’s there so we are continually trying to get the word out about that.”
DeLong did say there has been one additional plus for the Olde Towne prospects and that has been “a lot of residential renovation to the older homes in Olde Towne. That will bring people living there and that is one way to bring more businesses.”
DeLong said many people also do not know there are excellent tax incentives in Olde Towne for prospective businesses. The area is designated a Historical Preservation District, a Cultural District, and a Main Street District—all of which can qualify a business for tax incentives to open.
“Anyone can come see me about that and I can detail those incentives,” she said. “They can be pretty substantial depending on where you open.”
The Main Street Slidell group is holding a fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 18 in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. See related story with this article for more information.