A Great Downtown Is Never Finished
The Monitor’s recent look back at the Main Street Project is a reminder that transformative projects don’t end when the construction crews leave, they evolve. Ten years ago, Concord made a bold investment in creating a downtown that was safer, more accessible, and more welcoming, and the results have been transformative. Today, Main Street is home to new businesses, outdoor dining, festivals, public art, and a renewed sense of community. And, I am proud of our work in that project.
But success also creates new opportunities. The next chapter shouldn’t be measured simply by storefront occupancy or foot traffic, but by how we continue to make downtown a place where people want to live, work, gather, and invest. That means supporting small businesses, encouraging more housing, expanding cultural programming, improving wayfinding and parking, and creating reasons for residents and new visitors to return throughout the week, not simply during major events.
Almost a decade ago, I wrote that the Main Street Project was not the finish line but the foundation for Concord’s future. I believe that’s even more true today. Great downtowns are never “finished.” They require constant input, fresh ideas, and continued public-private collaboration.
Concord once proved that it is willing to think big. The next challenge is ensuring that the momentum of the last decade becomes the foundation for what comes next.