Tappahannock Main Street Executive Committee, pictured from left: Mavora Donoghue (President), Lorraine Justice (Secretary), Rob Hodges (Treasurer), John Harvey (Vice President) and Beth Sharpe (Executive Director).
Warsaw isn’t the only local town eager for downtown revitalization.
Back in fall 2019, the town of Tappahannock got the ball rolling for their own reimagining with four community visioning sessions presented by Essex County. The public was invited to attend and share their thoughts and hopes for what a revitalized downtown might mean. Well attended by the public, the sessions provided both feedback and excitement about what might be possible.
From there, the county contacted the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development about applying for a designated Main Street revitalization. By January 2020, a group of 20 citizens began the three-month process of writing the 80-page application. “The plan was, whether or not we got the grant, we as a community were going to go forward to make our dreams happen,” says Beth Sharpe, executive director of the Tappahannock Main Street Program, a volunteer-led organization.
When the governor announced the grant recipients in September, Tappahannock was one of only four communities to receive the Main Street designation. “What this means is we’re on the fast track, with a three-year contracted service through the state to launch us on the right start,” she explains. Each month, the state provides a different area of training or resources to further the effort. During April, the state provided an architect to help determine how to make downtown more of a draw by increasing its walkability and livability.
“It’s a unique approach to economic development because we’re creating an environment that the community and businesses want to be part of,” Sharpe says. “Tappahannock is historic, and our main street leads directly to the water, so we have a lot to offer.” She sees the support of the town and county as indicative of how much the community needs and wants the revitalization.
Surprisingly, the pandemic caused many residents to have a renewed appreciation for their town. People who once commuted to Richmond or Fredericksburg were suddenly working from home and becoming reacquainted with local businesses and restaurants. “They no longer shopped or went to eat near where they worked, so it had the effect of reconnecting people to what’s here,” Sharpe says.
By the end of 2021, the town expects to have a firm strategic and master plan in place detailing how they’ll attack the revitalization process. Already, they’ve purchased Gilchrist Field—the former St, Margaret’s School hockey field—to renovate into a two-acre green space. A survey sent to residents in early April asked for input about what the multi-use park should include. Over 600 people responded to the survey, a clear indicator that interest is high in bringing fresh life to downtown. “We’re doing everything possible to be as inclusive as we can because we want people to be heard,” Sharpe explains. “Community support is essential.”
The focus for the rest of 2021 is to support the existing businesses that have long contributed to Tappahannock’s revenue. The town finds out in July if it will get a grant to offer 0% revolving loans to current businesses.
In five years, Sharpe expects Tappahannock to be bustling. “We want to see both residents and visitors frequenting downtown again, walking around, doing, learning and enjoying the waterfront,” she says. “It’s exciting to see something that looked so dull be brought to life again. A vibrant downtown is what we want.”