Design Workshop hosted by Illinois Main Street

We welcome all Main Street and downtown management staff, board members, and Design Committee members are welcome to join us in downtown Alton on July 29th for an exciting, interactive Design workshop led by Lisa Thompson, Senior Program Officer at Main Street America.

During the workshop, Lisa will share best practices of good downtown design, historic preservation, and how to activate your Design Committee. The session will include a tour and engaging conversation of how to build your own local team of revitalization specialists.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Free for IMS members | $50 for non-members

Agenda

10:00 AM Welcome & Introductions

10:15 AM – 11:45 AM Storefront Design

The storefront is usually the most prominent feature of a historic commercial building, playing a crucial role in drawing customers and increasing business. It is not surprising that the storefront is the feature most commonly altered in a historic commercial building. Many alterations have completely changed or destroyed the distinguishing features that give the storefront its historic character.

Learn how to retain and preserve remaining functional and decorative historic features, such as display windows, signs, doors, transoms, lower window panels, and cornices; retain later storefronts that have acquired significance; replace deteriorated or missing features based on remaining physical evidence and preserve the storefront’s character even when there is a new use on the inside.

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM District Investigation: Encouraging Good Design

Local incentives and best practices from communities throughout the state and nationally will be discussed. Small groups will be assigned properties. Assess and identify best practices that should be encouraged.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch

Catered in and provided by Illinois Main Street for all registered attendees.

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Report out - Encouraging good design

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM Historic Color Theory

Color and features are important considerations when rehabbing historic building facades. In this hands-on workshop, learn time-tested strategies for ensuring appropriate color selections.

This workshop is brought to you by Illinois Main Street, in partnership with Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, the Driehaus Foundation, and Alton Main Street.

Trainer Bio
Lisa Mullins Thompson serves as a Senior Program Officer. She works closely with the Vice President of Revitalization Services and the Chief Program Officer to refine existing field services work and develop and deliver new cutting-edge technical assistance and programming in-person to clients, at conferences, and via MSA’s other professional development channels.

Lisa brings to MSA a broad professional background in historic preservation, strategic planning, public relations, small business and economic development in both the private and public sector. Prior to joining MSA, Lisa most recent employment was with the Kentucky Heritage Council, where she served as a Historic Preservation Coordinator and as a Resource Specialist for the Kentucky Main Street Program.

Lisa previously worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and as Executive Director of two Main Street programs in Annapolis, MD and Paducah, KY. Lisa has been connected to Main Street throughout her personal and professional journey as the owner of a downtown retail businesses, restoring old homes, and rehabilitating downtown commercial buildings and as a former volunteer leader for the Heart of Danville, her hometown Main Street program.

Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from the University of Maryland. She also has earned the Main Street America Revitalization Professional (MSARP) credential and is a Historic Real Estate Development Finance Professional (HREDFP). When she’s not helping new businesses or reimagining new uses for old buildings, Lisa can be found in her kitchen whipping up a French classic with ingredients from her backyard garden in Central Kentucky.

Questions?

Please email Erik Reader, Director of Illinois Main Street: ereader@mainstreet.org