Main Street Crestview is a non-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to the revitalization and development of historic downtown Crestview.  Our vision for the downtown area is to create a safe, culturally rich, and architecturally preserved downtown that is vibrant and eye-appealing, family and community oriented, and commercially viable.

Our mission is to establish a partnership between the public and private sectors dedicated to revitalizing downtown Crestview, with emphasis on community livability, economic restructuring, and historic preservation.

More specifically, Main Street Crestview:

Main Street Crestview Association, Inc. has been in existence since 1997 and received its official non-profit status in 2004. The program is locally funded by city government, private memberships, donations, event participation fees, sponsorships, and downtown sidewalk commemorative brick sales. It is operated by a 15-member Board of Directors, annually chosen by the Association members. The President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer are chosen from the Board membership, and are recognized as the Executive Committee. There are four standing committees (Organization and Membership Development, Promotions, Design, and Economic Restructuring), each of which focuses on a key area of the Main Street Approach to downtown revitalization. With an office at City Hall, a City of Crestview employee has the designated title of Main Street Program Director, is the principal day-to-day liaison between the City of Crestview and the Association, and performs numerous duties on behalf of and in support of the Main Street Crestview Association.

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The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used generally to revitalize older, traditional downtown business districts throughout the United States.  It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face these downtown districts.  The underlying premise of the Main Street Approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace.  The Main Street Approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional districts based on their unique assets such as distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.  The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a comprehensive strategy that is tailored to meet local needs and opportunities.  It encompasses work in four distinct areas (Organization and Membership Development, Promotions, Design, and Economic Restructuring) that are combined to address all of the commercial district's needs.  The philosophy and the eight guiding principles behind this methodology make it an effective tool for community-based, grassroots revitalization efforts.  The Main Street Approach has been successful in communities of all sizes, both rural and urban.  Main Street Crestview has adopted the Main Street Approach and each of the four points is represented in our committees that plan and implement our annual program of work.

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The National Trust Main Street Center's experience in helping communities bring their downtowns back to life has shown time and time again that the Main Street Four-Point Approach succeeds.  That success is guided by the following eight principles, which set the Main Street methodology apart from other redevelopment strategies.  For a Main Street program to be successful, it must whole-heartedly embrace the following time-tested eight principles.

Comprehensive:  No single focus — such as lavish public improvements, name-brand business recruitment, or endless promotional events — can do the job.  For successful, sustainable, long-term revitalization, a comprehensive approach (including activity in each of Main Street's Four Points) is essential.

Incremental:  Baby steps come before walking. Successful revitalization programs begin with basic, simple activities that demonstrate that "new things are happening" in the district.  As public confidence in the downtown grows and participants understand that the revitalization process gradually becomes more sophisticated, Main Street Crestview will be able to tackle increasingly complex problems and more ambitious projects.  This incremental change will lead to much longer-lasting and dramatic positive change in the downtown area.

Self-help: No one else will save our downtown for us. Local leaders must have the will and desire to mobilize local resources and talent. That means convincing residents and business owners of the rewards they'll reap by investing time and money in downtown— the heart of our community. Only local leadership can produce long-term success by fostering and demonstrating community involvement and commitment to the revitalization effort.

Partnerships: Both the public and private sectors have a vital interest in the downtown and must work together to achieve common goals of downtown's revitalization. Each sector has a role to play and each must understand the other's strengths and limitations in order to forge an effective partnership.

Identifying and capitalizing on existing assets: Downtown must capitalize on the assets that make it unique. Just like other downtowns, we have unique qualities like distinctive buildings and human scale that give people a sense of belonging. These local assets must serve as the foundation for all aspects of our revitalization program.

Quality: Emphasize quality in every aspect of the revitalization program. This applies to all elements of the process — from storefront designs to promotional campaigns to educational programs. Shoestring budgets and "cut and paste" efforts reinforce a negative image of the downtown district. Instead, concentrate on quality projects over quantity.

Change: Skeptics turn into believers and attitudes about downtown will turn around. At first, almost no one believes downtown can really turn around. Changes in attitude and practice are slow but definite — public support for change will build as the Main Street program grows and consistently meets its goals. Change also means engaging in better business practices, altering ways of thinking, and improving the physical appearance of the downtown. A carefully planned Main Street program will help shift public perceptions and practices to support and sustain the revitalization process.

Implementation: To succeed, Main Street must show visible results that can only come from completing projects. Frequent, visible changes are a reminder that the revitalization effort is under way and succeeding. Small projects at the beginning of the program pave the way for larger ones as the revitalization effort matures, and that constant revitalization activity creates confidence in the Main Street program and ever-greater levels of participation.

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Crestview’s traditional downtown commercial district is probably the most visible indicator of our community pride, along with our economic and social health. It can either be an asset or a liability in the effort to recruit new residents, new businesses and industries, retirees, visitors, and others to our community and to keep those we already have. Quality of life is what separates successful cities and towns from declining communities in the new millennium. Finally, our downtown commercial district is the visual representation for our community's heritage. The architecture of our downtown district is a physical expression of Crestview’s history. The Main Street Approach encourages forward-thinking economic development in an historic preservation context so Crestview’s community asset and legacy can be passed on to future generations.

Because preservation-based downtown revitalization entails the participation of so many people and entities in the community, a wide range of people also benefit.

Downtown Crestview did not deteriorate overnight and it won't be revitalized quickly either. Downtown revitalization is a long-term effort. We know that using the Main Street Approach is hard work, but it has already substantially improved the health of Crestview’s downtown by giving us an effective framework for our revitalization efforts.

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Can our mall and discount centers take the place of our traditional commercial district? The answer is a resounding "no." It may no longer be the sole option in our community, but downtown Crestview is much more than a shopping center.

Here are some reasons why downtown is still important to Crestview:

• Downtown Crestview is a prominent employment center.  Downtown Crestview employs hundreds of people, and is collectively the community's largest employer.
• Downtown Crestview is a reflection of our community. It indicates our image, pride, prosperity, and level of investment — critical factors in business retention and recruitment efforts. When a large business, corporation, or industrial prospect considers locating here in the Crestview area, many want to see downtown first. It is a positive selling point.
• Downtown Crestview represents a significant portion of the community's tax base. If the district declines, property values drop, placing more of a tax burden on other parts of town.
• Downtown Crestview is an ideal location for independent businesses, which in turn keep profits in town, support other local businesses and services, supports local families with family-owned businesses, supports local community projects, and provides an extremely stable economic foundation.
• Downtown Crestview is the historic core of our community. Our downtown buildings embody Crestview’s past and its visual identity.
• Downtown Crestview is a tourist attraction. When people travel or shop, they want to see unique places — especially ones that could offer a unique shopping experience.
• Downtown Crestview, among other benefits, continues to offer shopping, leisure activities, and community history.
• Downtown Crestview reduces sprawl. It concentrates retail businesses in one area and uses community resources wisely, such as infrastructure, tax dollars, and land. A healthy downtown Crestview also protects property values in surrounding residential neighborhoods.
• Downtown Crestview offers convenience. Downtowns are often within walking distance of residential areas, providing easy accessibility for the community and reducing the reliance on auto-dependent shopping.
• Downtown Crestview is a center of government offices. The City Hall, County Courthouse, and other government offices are located in the downtown area. It is an important service center as well for finding attorneys, physicians, insurance offices, and financial institutions.
• Downtown Crestview provides an important civic forum, where members of the community can congregate. Parades, special events, and celebrations held here reinforce an intangible sense of community.
• Downtown Crestview represents a huge public and private investment. Imagine how much it would cost to re-create all of the buildings and public infrastructure in Crestview’s downtown.

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