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Rose City Renaissance — A Brief History
Prior to 2000, Norwich had dabbled with the Main Street concept, but never pursued status as an “official” member community. While the spirit was present, the failure to fully embrace the program led to this effort's early demise. By 2000, enough community interest was emerging to once again pursue an investigation of methods to revitalize Downtown Norwich. In September, 2001, a group of activists retained the services of Donovan Rypkema, a well-known authority on downtown economic development and consultant for the National Main Street Center. Leading a bus trip with forty participants, Rypkema explored the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where they saw all the good work that had been done. On the return trip, he suggested that Norwich explore the Main Street program to help in their efforts. Energized and ready to improve downtown, the group held a public meeting to relate the findings of the bus trip to the community. Seventy five interested people attended. Shortly after that, eight “brainstorming sessions” were held with various segments of the community to create a common vision for the future of Norwich. The resulting Chelsea Vision Statement was drafted and unanimously adopted by the City Council. At the same time, another group of the activists were exploring official participation in the Connecticut Main Street program. As the group explored the possibilities of Main Street status during 2002, representatives from the Connecticut Main Street Center encouraged them to apply during the Spring of 2003, to provide sufficient time to complete the detailed application process. At that point, the group expanded into a Steering Committee. Meeting weekly, this group organized an extremely successful Norwich Main Street Town Meeting for January, 2003, with more than 100 people in attendance. Now meeting regularly, the Steering Committee proceeded to pull together the elements of a Main Street application to the Connecticut Main Street Selection Committee. Based upon is submission and presentation, the group was given provisional acceptance into the program. Provisional acceptance included the requirements that Rose City Renaissance be incorporated; officers and a board of directors elected; by-laws drafted; four standing committees formed; tax-exempt status applied for; an Executive Director Selection Committee formed; at least $100,000 raised; and an executive director hired. This was all accomplished in five months. The program received official recognition in November, 2003. |
