The Town of Elizabethtown's "Downtown Enhancement Planning Project" is a project to help us improve our downtown area, one of our town's major assets. The initial project is funded by a $40,000 grant from the NC Rural Economic Development Center.

The purpose of the "Downtown Enhancement Planning Project" is basically three-fold:

· Create a vision for how we, as a community, would like to see downtown Elizabethtown develop and prosper;
· Analyze the infrastructure needs of the downtown area (including water, sewer, stormwater, sidewalks, parking) and discuss the downtown streetscape; and
· Develop a priority and funding plan so that the community's vision for downtown Elizabethtown can be implemented within a prioritization schedule that is affordable, cost effective, and least disruptive to residents, businesses and visitors.

Community meetings were held September 19th, 20th and 22nd, 2005. At these meetings, business owners, property owners, community leaders and citizens gave the town input about their likes and dislikes in four main areas (Map - Study Area):

· Area #1 - Broad Street and Poplar Street;
· Area #2 - South Poplar Street;
· Area #3 - Martin Luther King Business District; and
· Area #4 - Peanut Road and Broad Street.

A preliminary report about the Downtown Enhancement Planning is available by clicking on the following link:

Final Presentation - Elizabethtown Downtown Enhancement Planning Project (PowerPoint presentation - LARGE FILE)

A Market Analysis was also done as part of the Downtown Enhancement Planning Project. To view this report, which gives statistical market information about Elizabethtown, as well as categories of businesses that may do well in Elizabethtown, click on the following link:

Elizabethtown Downtown Market Analysis (Adobe pdf)

Elizabethtown Downtown Market Analysis (PowerPoint presentation)

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? The Downtown Enhancement Planning Project will culminate in a Final Report, which will be considered by Town Council for final approval sometime during the spring of 2006. From there, we will work to build a broad-based public - private partnership to begin working on the beautification and community development projects. The Town of Elizabethtown will pursue grants to help with replacing water lines, sewer lines, stormwater lines, and other infrastructure, but a community effort will be needed to compliment and work hand-in-hand with the public effort. We need YOUo assist with this effort. If you are interested in volunteering to help Elizabethtown grow and develop, email Planning Director Mary Jo Gollnitz at the following email address: Timmothy Tibbs

If you have any questions about the Downtown Enhancement Planning Project, please contact the Elizabethtown Planning Department.