What is the Main Street Program?

The Oklahoma Main Street Program is a statewide program with a preservation-based approach for Oklahoma’s business district revitalization. Main Street was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C. to encourage business and government resources to support local downtown revitalization efforts. The program has been successfully used by more 1200 cities in over 40 states. Since the start of the Oklahoma Main Street Program in 1986, 44 Oklahoma towns and urban area communities have been designated as Main Street programs.

The Main Street philosophy for the revitalization of business district is simple: rehabilitation of existing structures by capitalizing on the unique quality of the building and combined with a marketing and management program.

This program is successfully integrating a strategy for physical improvement on N.E. 23rd street buildings and public spaces, an aggressive promotion and image building program, and economic development for the area. The approach fosters long-term management of positive change and growth through an incremental consensus building process.

Revitalization of N.E. 23rd street is not completely “City Hall’s Responsibility”. And yet, our business owners can’t do it alone. The collaborative efforts all agencies involved, as well as combining the unique skills and vantage points of both public and private sectors, is essential for the successful completion of the project.

Eastside Capitol Gateway Main Street (ECG) will follow the National Main Street four-point approach. The four areas that the main street volunteers will focus their attention are Organization, Design, Economic Revitalization and Promotion. The Main Street Program offers a unique approach to revitalization that has been successful in more than sixteen hundred towns and cities throughout the United States and several overseas countries.

The Eastside Capitol Gateway Main Street's Four Point Strategies Are:

Organization: Building consensus and cooperation among the many groups and individuals who have a role in the revitalization process.

Design: Enhance the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging supportive new construction, developing sensitive design management systems and long-term planning.

Promotion: Marketing the traditional commercial district's assets to customers, potential investors, new businesses, local citizens and visitors.

Economic Restructuring: Strengthening the district's existing economic base while finding ways to expand it to meet new opportunities-- and challenges from outlying development.

The Main Street Program serves as a unifying factor to encourage area merchants and building owners to reinvest in their properties. Oklahoma Main Street Programs have resulted in reinvestment of $264 million since 1986 with 22,122 new business and 6,237 new jobs.

Eastside Capitol Gateway Main Street, Inc. (ECG) is sponsored by the City of Oklahoma City Economic Development Committee to assist with economic redevelopment on Northeast 23rd Street. The Capitol Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce has designated the NE 23rd Street (Clara Luper Corridor) as an Main Street area. Eastside Capitol Gateway Main Street, Inc. became a Main Street Program on March 12, 2002.