RETAIL DISTRICTS - DOWNTOWN
Downtown	Midtown	Parkade	Buckland Hills Area

Downtown Manchester (continued..)

In 1991 Manchester's town government sponsored a revitalization study, and involved the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and downtown property owners and businesses.  This revitalization plan set out a strategic direction which has been followed ever since.

Importantly, the Town Board of Directors, working in cooperation with downtown property owners, formed a Special Services District (SSD) in 1991.  This business improvement district is staffed by a full time manager and is dedicated to managing the affairs and programs for downtown.  This includes marketing and promotions, business recruiting, parking lot management, streetscape beautification, and events management.  The downtown SSD Manager is an integral part of the town's economic development team in dealing with this historic district.  Please visit the SSD website for more specific information on the downtown.

 

Main Street itself has been totally reconstructed, with new underground utilities installed, new roadway surface and sidewalks, and decorative street lighting and signage.  The town began a facade improvement grant program that has encouraged over $1.3 million of public and private investment into restoring the historic architecture to its original proportions.  Parking lots were acquired by the town and lots redesigned, repaved and landscaped to provide ample parking for patrons and businesses.

Downtown Manchester still serves as Manchester's front room and is an important business, service, and social center for the community.  It boasts a mix of restaurants, specialty retail, business and professional services, financial services, and housing.  Manchester is also becoming a preferred destination for technology related businesses and business services.  These types of businesses are finding downtown increasingly favorable for technology related fields because of the town's fiber optic system, which is now offering free wireless access to the internet, and the availability of internet and communications access from Cox Communications as well as SBC.  These redundant systems, low cost environment, access to services and labor, and quick access to markets are the same combination of infrastructure, human resources, and geography that have always helped Manchester's downtown survive.