As director of the downtown revitalization program, Winchester First Director Rachel Alexander is working to show that historic preservation is good for business, the local economy and overall community health.
“What makes downtown Winchester unique is the historic nature,” Alexander said. “That is something people are looking for today. You see other people struggling to do place-making.”
In September 2014, Alexander began her tenure in Winchester, becoming the first downtown director with an expertise in historic preservation, including a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in historic preservation. She wants to share that knowledge with downtown business owners.
“A frequently underappreciated component of historic buildings is their role as natural incubators of small business. It isn’t the Fortune 500 that are creating the net new jobs in America,” Alexander said. “In small, historic downtowns, a major contribution to the local economy is the relative aff ordability of older buildings.”
Together with the Winchester First board of directors, Alexander is working on a master plan that will guide preservation and development in downtown. The board’s economic revitalization committee is currently defining goals and priorities for downtown and will seek help from an outside firm to complete the plan. Alexander said the finished product will likely include economic incentives for downtown business owners, and she plans to host workshops for business owners detailing ways they can use their historic buildings to attract new business.
According to Winchester-Clark County Industrial Authority Director Todd Denham, prospective industrial clients typically want to visit downtown when determining whether to locate in Clark County.
“People don’t locate their business in downtown by accident,” Alexander said.
The Winchester Board of Commissioners and the Clark County Fiscal Court are joining Winchester First in its efforts. The three entities are joining forces to repurpose the Sphar Seed Co. building on North Main Street. In recent years, the building has fallen into disrepair and faced the possibility of demolition. The Greater Clark Foundation has agreed to help shoulder the cost of rehabilitation by awarding grant money and, after renovation, the space likely will be used to house offices of the foundation, Winchester First, the Clark County Chamber of Commerce, the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Development Authority and the Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission.
Officials involved plan to seek state transportation grant funds and capitalize on the building’s proximity to Depot Street, where the county’s train depot once was located. In 2013, Winchester First and the city completed renovation of Depot Street, including restoration of the old brick-paved street, installing new light fixtures and burying all utility lines underground. The area has since been used to host downtown events and is the permanent home of the Winchester-Clark County Farmers Market, another draw for downtown, Alexander said.
Since 2013, 11 new businesses have located downtown, she said, including a coffee shop, an antique store, an architectural firm, the Winchester Art Guild’s studio and souvenir store and a photography studio.
“It is obvious that historic buildings and places attract people. They are the right scale; they are easily accessed by car but are also walkable or even bike-able. They have sense of place and individuality that appeals to us on a deep, human level. And in the end, business, big or small, is about people,” Alexander said.