Making a Destination
The city took a step forward last year in its hopes to revitalize the downtown, but it still has work to do.
Butler Downtown, the Main Street Program in the city, helped lead the way in promoting development.
The program, funded through state Department of Community Development, awarded $30,000 in facade grants to help five business owners on Main Street renovate the exterior of their properties.
“The best thing is seeing Dumpsters on Main Street because that means someone is making renovations,” said Chelynne Curci, the program's manager and lone employee.
The program allocates up to $5,000 in a matching grant to business owners to renovate their store fronts.
Dittman Eye Care was one of the businesses to take advantage of the program. The eye care clinic received $7,500 in facade grants, qualifying for an extra $2,500 because it is a corner store.
Owner Michael Dittman said he replaced 43 windows.
“Anything that can help improve downtown is great,” he said. “A lot of people have used the grants to improve their businesses.”
Beyond the grant, Dittman also made several changes to the interior of his office, renovating the second and third stories to create a three-story operation.
“We did some pretty extensive work,” he said, adding he even added an elevator.
Dittman said the investment stems from faith he has in Main Street.
“I'm hoping the practice continues beyond me,” he said of his long-term plans for the clinic.
It's a newfound confidence for Dittman.
“I used to say it can survive in spite of being downtown,” he said of his clinic, which he has owned since 2002. “Now being downtown is an aid to helping grow the practice.”
Dittman's success is what Butler Downtown hopes for all stores along Main Street.
Bob Dandoy took over as president of Butler Downtown for 2014.“My main goal for the year is to get the program better organized,” he said. “That way future presidents can focus solely on the task they want to accomplish.”Dandoy said it's not that the program is unorganized, it's just that it grew faster than expected.“We need to take a step back and regroup,” he said.Curci said the organization is exceeding its expectations.“We've grown a lot faster than expected,” Curci said, adding that the group has about 50 regular volunteers and 15 members on the board of directors. “We've done more than we thought we could.”The program will continue its West New Castle Street Plaza events this summer. Dandoy said the group hopes to add to the weekly music performances.“We want to expand to running more nights with more entertainment,” he said, saying movies are a possible attraction.The plaza is set to open around Memorial Day.While the program hopes to expand on activities it has done in the past, its also focused on finding new ways to improve downtown.That's where its committees step in.Butler Downtown has committees, made up of volunteers and board members, for building design, promotions, economic restructuring, and organization.Perhaps the biggest goal of the committees this year is to produce a market study for the city. Curci said the organization hopes to use interns from Slippery Rock University to help complete the study, which will pinpoint the type of businesses best suited for the city.The idea behind all the work is to attract shoppers.
“My philosophy is if we can increase consumer traffic, then we make it more viable for businesses to grow and become solidified,” Dandoy said. “And we saw that last year.”And foot traffic does seem to be increasing, according to some Main Street business owners.Bill Atkinson, a city resident and owner of the Chop Shop restaurant on Main Street, said he has seen a notable change.“Downtown Butler is slowly starting to turn around,” he said. “It has been for the past couple years.”Atkinson, who is a member of Butler Downtown, said he is impressed with the small businesses operating on Main Street.“Younger business owners are moving in with the energy and determination to make things work,” he said.Atkinson said he thinks Butler Downtown is an important aspect to helping the city's revitalization efforts.“It's nice there is a core group of people working very hard to see that change does happen,” he said.That cooperation among business owners is what will make Main Street successful, Atkinson said.“We're all in this together,” he said.Atkinson said the downtown offers a good opportunity for specialty shops, adding the city likely won't attract many retail chains.But while the city offers space for unique stores, it also has a spot for office space.“There's more competition for office space in the city,” said Nancy Morgan McCarren, with the Morgan Management Group. “The old storefronts are now spaces available for offices.”Morgan McCarren said the Morgan Management Center on East Diamond Street has maintained a solid base of tenants.“We've had a few new tenants,” she said. “The majority of the building is rented, but we still have some office space available.”Morgan McCarren, who has worked at the center for 20 years, said downtown Butler has changed significantly over that time, but is still a viable place for business.“Butler County is growing,” she said. “That growth and being the county seat are positive things for Butler.”
<b>Address</b>: 101 E. Diamond St., Suite 116Manager</b>: Chelynne Curci<b>Employees</b>: 1<b>Mission</b>: Believing that a vibrant downtown is vital to the health and well-being of a community, the volunteers of Butler Downtown work to revitalize, renew and restore the Main Street of Butler.<b>Website</b>: www.butlerdowntown.org
