Denton Economic Development Partnership
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What We Do

Originally known as the Main Street Program, the city reorganized the department in 2005, and named it "Downtown Development" to more accurately reflect its economic development emphasis. Julie Glover, Economic Development Program Administrator, oversees development and activities in the area. The methodology we use for downtown revitalization is from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center to develop and maintain a healthy, vital downtown.

The Main Street Program is a worldwide program to revitalize downtown areas. The Denton Main Street Program began in 1989. Since then, there have been marked physical and financial improvements in the area. Over $41 million in private and public sector dollars have been reinvested in the area since the inception of the program.

The National Main Street Center is a branch of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is based in Washington, DC; the Texas Main Street Program is in Austin. Denton maintains designation as an official Texas and National “Main Street City” through a certification process each year.

 

Our partner in revitalization is the Denton Main Street Association (MSA), a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization which raises funds for festivals, events and marketing.

A fifteen-member committee comprises the board for MSA. This board is volunteer staffed and represents merchants, building owners and interested parties in the area. The organization meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. Membership mixers are held quarterly. More information on the MSA can be found at www.dentonmainstreet.org.

The Four Point Approach to Revitalization

The MSA and the Downtown Development Department work together using four approaches to achieve revitalization. They are:

Organization: Organize the downtown participants into a strong, cohesive unit that works together and speaks for the betterment of the area.

Design: Encourage appropriate, high-quality design in the maintenance, renovation, and re-use of downtown buildings. Good design projects a positive image for downtown and capitalizes on downtown’s unique character.

Unified Promotion: Sponsor events in the central business district for the entire community (sales, concerts, festivals, etc.). Advertise and promote a positive image of downtown.

Economic Restructuring: Aim for full use and occupancy of downtown. This approach will identify market needs and develop programs to meet those needs. Adapting buildings to new uses, developing upper-story space, and utilizing tax incentives for building rehabilitation are all economic restructuring tools.

Where is Downtown?


Downtown District Map
Click to enlarge 

The boundaries of the downtown district are, from north to south, both sides of Locust and Elm from University to Eagle. The western boundary is Carroll Boulevard and includes the area between Congress and Sycamore. The eastern boundary is Bell Avenue and includes the area between Withers and Oak (the Civic Center Complex). The southern boundary is the railroad tracks and includes all the area west and to the south of Eagle.