DOWNTOWN
Revised boundaries for Main Street Gray were adopted by the Gray Downtown Development Authority in June and will be presented to the city council at its August meeting.
Main Street Gray Director Ashley Roberson said the change in the district boundaries were the suggestion the Georgia Office of Downtown Development. She said she received the recommendation during a phone call with Elizabeth Elliott, who represents the agency.
Roberson said the topic came up during the agency’s annual accreditation review with the state office. She said Elliott explained the Main Street boundaries should be strategic and work toward Main Street’s primary focus, which is downtown.
The new boundaries of the downtown district are Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Forest Street and Pinewood Drive to Washburn Drive and represent the traditional commercial core of downtown Gray as defined in the city’s Design Guidelines.
The director said the change will not exclude any local business from events.
“I want to stress that all of our businesses are welcome to participate in Main Street Gray events. They are all included; we just have to focus on downtown,” she said.
The previous boundaries had been extended to the city limits of Gray.
DDA members also serve as the Board of Directors for Main Street Gray. Minutes for the DDA’s June 12 meeting show the revised boundaries were unanimously approved.
Roberson said the final step for the new boundaries is approval by Gray’s City Council members.
“We’ll discuss the boundaries at the committees meeting, and council will vote on the change at their Aug. 7 meeting,” she said.
Roberson serves as the recording secretary for the DDA and manages the rentals, marketing and day-to-day operation of Butler Hall event venue. She said there were four events in June, four more scheduled this month and eight in August.
The director said she gets calls about the booking the venue every day. She said window treatments for Butler Hall were discussed at the July 11 DDA meeting. She said heat is an issue, and the air conditioners are doing all they can.
Roberson said the downtown landscape project was underway, which when complete will add flowers and greenery to the downtown streetscape. She said the areas have been cleared, but because of the heat, the plants would not be added until the fall.
The director said the Main Street Farmers Market has been doing well. It is held on the second and fourth Saturday of the month on the corner of Highway 11 and Gray Highway in the Main Street Station parking lot.
She said that location was selected for its visibility and to attract foot traffic to downtown businesses.
“Everything we do is to support our downtown businesses,” Roberson added.
