Revitalizing the downtown areas in Covington and Clifton Forge will take a collarborative effort that involves the entire Alleghany Highlands region. The study was presented by Kyle Talente, a vice president and principal with an Alexandria economic planning and real estate consulting firm, RKG Associates, Inc. The study was paid for through a grant from the Alleghany Foundation.

"You have to move away from the 'us versus them' mentality," said Talente who noted that the area has become one market due to job and population losses. "Its the Alleghany Highlands market," he said.

Revitalizing the downtown areas must be a joint effort between Covington and Clifton Forge with collaboration from a point of control organization such as The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation. Talente recommended that the point of control organization in the Highlands be in charge of coordinating and implementing downtown revitalization strategies. The organizaation should include an advisory board of 12 to 20 "stakeholders" who would work to strengthen the ties between Covington and Clifton Forge. "This has to be an active, not a passive group," Talente said. "I just cannot stress enough that we need to move away from the 'us versus them' if we are going to succeed here."

Both downtown areas offer unique opportunities for growth and development. Clifton Forge offers more opportunity for retail development in its downtown area while Covington has more residential opportunites according to the study.

Clifton Forge's downtown areas has been able to attract some unique retail outlets and restaurants, such as Riders Up! and Jack Mason's Tavern while Covington's downtown has become primarily service oriented. Law offices, financial offices, government offices and medical services are common.
"There are not a lot of opportunites from a marketing standpoint to have additional retail opportunites," Talente said.

He recommended that downtown Covington be used to target age-segmented housing, which is growing fast in the Highlands. Upper floors of vacant buildings could be renovated to attract people that are retiring in urban areas. The buildings could also be used to house interns who train at the MeadWestvaco paper mill.

The vacant Collins Hotel could be targeted as a pilot project in downtown Covington. The building could be used for housing or possibility as a culinary art school. The school could be based on the main floor and the upper floors used as a dormitory to house students.

The Collins could be a feature project that would tie into the renovated C&O passenger station. The Covington Public Works facility should be relocated to another area of town because it detracts from the renovated depot and takes away needed parking.

The Covington passenger station should be used to market other railroad heritage attractions in Clifton Forge. Clifton Forge has more opportunites to attract new retail outlets since larger chains such as Wal-Mart and Kmart are not located nearby.

In Clifton Forge continuing efforts to make the Masonic Theatre a catalyst project. "At the theatre the focus should be on getting visual performing arts back up and running," said Talente.

The theatre's main floor could be used for performing arts, while the lower level could become a dining and entertainment center. Work on the upper floors would be a more long-range project because of the expense involved.

Several programs and "tools" could be used to attract investments to the downtowns, including tax abatements to encourage property owners to enhance and modernize buildings.

"You have to get incentives in place to make people want to invest," Talente said.

He added that developing a Web site to market the downtowns is paramount to any growth strategy and should be conducive to allow customers to order products from local businesses online.

David Kleppinger, executive director of The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation (AHEDC) said the next step is take RKG's recommendations and hire "nationally recognized planners" with a long track record of success in communities like the Highlands. Mr. Kleppinger also mentioned that two communications companies Shentel and nTelos are investing heavily in the Highlands to upgrade their infrastructure. A grant loan package that nTelos will receive from federal sources will allow them to improve it broadband capability throughout Alleghany County. "They would like to provide fiber to every business and every home within their service area" said Kleppinger.

Talente said broadband could make the downtown areas more attractive to residential housing - targeting persons who are choosing to live and work out of their homes.

Source: Virginia Review, Friday, January 29, 2010