Fernandina Beach Main Street: under construction

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

November 26, 2017 4:00 p.m.

Historic Centre Street facades. Photo taken from Main Street web page: www.fernandinamainstreet.com.

Arlene Filkoff

Former Fernandina Beach Mayor/Commissioner Arlene Filkoff provided Fernandina Beach City Commissioners (FBCC) with a status report on Fernandina Beach Main Street during the November 21, 2017 FBCC Regular Meeting. Filkoff is currently serving as Interim Director of the local Main Street program, following the resignation of Jeff Kurtz. Filkoff was accompanied by members of the Main Street Board as well as representatives of the Historic Fernandina Beach Downtown Merchants Association.

Filkoff went into detail during her report, citing both successes and obstacles that Main Street has experienced during its first two years. The City of Fernandina Beach is the major sponsor of the program, having agreed to provide $40,000 per year for each of the first three years of the program’s existence. Filkoff emphasized that there is work to be done both internally and externally to clarify goals and priorities.

In taking on her new role, Filkoff has devoted considerable effort to improve communication with the city and downtown businesses. She said that too many people share the misconception that the purpose of Main Street is limited to eliminating blight, whereas the mission is much broader. She cited problems with lighting and sidewalks as examples.

She is conducting a risk assessment for moving forward with the program that should be completed by the end of March 2018. In order to move forward, Main Street will continue to need the support of major stakeholders and an infusion of volunteers. She added that the program will demand cooperation and teamwork with all the business people downtown.

Despite hand delivering 70 invitations to downtown businesses to attend a recent meeting to focus on their concerns and expectations for Main Street, only 15-20 invitees attended. They seemed positive about having a single voice dealing with the city of Fernandina Beach. Other concerns they identified included:

• Special Events
• Parking or perception of a parking problem
• Focus on the entire 16 block district, not just Centre St
• Waterfront
• Fairly enforceable noise ordinance
• Sidewalk from Centre to Ash
• Historic preservation inside and out

She said that city staff seems eager as well to have one voice representing downtown businesses. City commissioners also seem positive, provided that the program is run in concert with the city and downtown businesses.

Filkoff has set an ambitious agenda for the next four months:

• Re-form the Main Street councils which are defunct and re-establish expectations for those which are active by end of this year
• Bring the Main Street board out of the shadows
• Work on the priorities of the businesses and ensure expectations are managed
• Join in at the annual City Commission visioning session to ensure Main Street is working on city priorities for downtown
• Improve communications with property owners downtown to educate them on Main Street and why they should care by the end of this year
• Scheduling Main Street training for business and stakeholders for first quarter, 2018
• Increase reach to half of business people of end of this year, to all by end of first quarter, 2018
• Establish metrics for improvement in property values, and tax revenues by the end of January

With a new emphasis on teamwork and accomplishment, Filkoff intends to use all the information she collects to assess chances for the Main Street program’s success and making a go-no go decision by end of second quarter 2018. Continuing city support is critical to the program’s future. The biggest stakeholder is the City of Fernandina Beach. Should the city withdraw financial support next year, it will be difficult to keep the program going.

Editor's Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne's many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.