Winchester Unveils New Look

Winchester, Tenn., Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - The first phase of a multi-million dollar downtown revitalization project undertaken by the city of Winchester and its nonprofit Winchester Downtown Program Corporation has been completed thanks to a $1 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Part of an overall design plan created by the Memphis, Tenn.-based urban planning firm Looney Ricks Kiss and developed by Dempsey, Dilling and Associates Engineering, the nine-block area surrounding the historic Franklin County courthouse in Winchester has been transformed with wider roadways, sidewalks, trees, vintage-style streetlamps and signposts.

This is only the first step in a broad-based plan to promote progressive economic development and growth in Winchester and the surrounding area. The strategic development plan also calls for the refacing of all of the buildings in the court square area giving it a fresh, new look to attract new businesses as well as consumers to the area, which includes entertainment and a wide range of restaurants and retailers.

The second phase of the redevelopment effort is being financed by the Tennessee Courthouse Square Revitalization Pilot Program. Winchester is one of six cities across the state selected for the program in which all of the state's portion of sales and use taxes generated by businesses within the courthouse square area are returned to the city of Winchester to be used for improvements in the downtown area. The funding for the pilot program runs through 2023.

Work has already begun on the second phase, on the facades of buildings on the west side of court square.

"This redevelopment project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the city of Winchester," notes Mayor Terry Harrell. "For some 30 years, city officials and business leaders have been dreaming of the day that something like this would come along."

He adds, "We are positive it will be a success, and will make sure that it is, so that other cities may be able to benefit from this pilot program in the future."

Harrell stressed, "We believe all of this hard work will make a significant contribution to economic development and growth for the city, recruiting new retail businesses and drawing consumers to Winchester. We've already seen some new restaurants come to downtown."

To that end, the city has also hired the Memphis, Tenn.-based advertising, marketing and public relations firm Walker + Associates to develop a marketing plan, starting with a new logo and Web site to enhance the city's image. The logo features a stylized view of Winchester, highlighting the area mountains, Tims Ford Lake and downtown in a drawing of earthy pastels, with the tag line "Discover More By The Lakeshore!TM"

"We wanted the logo and tag line to serve as an invitation for everyone to rediscover Winchester, and so it highlights and capitalizes on all the great things that Winchester has to offer -- from the lake and hiking to golf, as well as its restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues downtown," Andy Windham, chief operating officer for Walker + Associates says.

The city's updated Web site http://www.winchester-tn.com/ refocuses the city as a travel destination with information on things to do, places to stay and eat, along with an events calendar, travel tools and a section dedicated to the downtown courthouse square area. The site also includes information on resources related to city government as well as details regarding Winchester's history and culture.

In keeping with the booming social networking trend, Winchester City Manager Beth Rhoton notes that downtown Winchester also now has a fan page on Facebook and a Twitter account so residents and visitors alike can keep up with the latest development and activities. Links to both can be found at the bottom of each Web page on http://www.winchester-tn.com/.

"We're very excited about what's happening downtown and looking forward to all of the improvements," Mayor Harrell says.

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