Let us continue this week with our series on the Reinvestment Strategies of 2009 that were undertaken by the WHDA and the City of Washington.

We have mentioned Festival Park, People’s Pier and the wayfinding program as three projects that have been completed or approved. All three are related closely to the subjects we need to discuss this week.

First, let us talk about the word “connectivity” and how it may relate to our central business district and revitalization efforts. This is not connection to computers, but rather connection with the Pamlico River.

With some of our buildings backed up to our beautiful river, your WHDA is seeking ways to connect downtown to the river and make visitors and shoppers feel as though they were on the waterfront shopping. This can be done by beautifying our existing alleys for better access to Main and Market streets. These alleys have history that many locals share, but they need to be decorated and possibly lit for visitors. Also, better access to our merchants’ back doors has been encouraged by the WHDA through façade grants provided by the City. The WHDA encourages the use of these grants to update and beautify not only the rear of a store, but also its front. Having a nice and safe entrance from the riverside will connect possible patrons to our downtown and its venues to shop or dine. This all helps us connect to our No. 1 resource, the Pamlico River, and will make it a pleasant walkable experience.

With that, let us move to our next point of emphasis, activity generators.

An activity generator is anything that can draw people to our central business district. Events, venues and attractions are vitally important points of the initial focus of downtown revitalization attempts. The Turnage, art galleries and events sponsored by the WHDA and our sister organizations create excitement and bring crowds to our downtown. These have a proven track record and have an impact on business that can bring potential customers to shop in our central business district. Every year the WHDA studies the needs and interests of our central business district and tries to host events that will generate energy and excitement that can benefit our local economy. The WHDA is always interested in new ideas that can possibly help our merchants, thus, attracting new businesses as well. The better our local merchants do, the better chance we have of attracting new ones to come to Washington.

Our last subject for today is the formation of the WHDA’s Maritime Council. This group is instrumental in bringing ideas pertaining to and capitalizing on our river. Such would be the case for the dock master’s lighthouse and having public bathrooms for boaters as they utilize our dock space. Other ideas on the table are more boat slips and slips for small boats, as well as beautification efforts along Stewart Parkway on the river’s side.

As you can see, your WHDA has been busy not just hosting events, but adding many revitalization initiatives in collaboration with the City. Our central business district is a vital artery in our city and county, and yes, six years is a short time in the life of any city.

Please let me conclude as always by encouraging you to let our local merchants be your first choice as to where you shop, dine and play in beautiful Washington, N.C. They need your support, and let us be their catalyst moving forward. If you have time and are not too tired after shopping, then you can always … take a walk with the H-Rob!

Harold Robinson is the director of development at the Washington Harbor District Alliance.