Virginia tourism's new website goes 'Old School'

We've created an "Old School" Main Street reel in celebration of the "new" Main Street in Danville's River District. 

Click here to see how far we've come! 

Virginia tourism officials have launched a new website to help Virginians share and find the best small town treasures and old school favorites. Click here to learn more. 

Danville is ready, Get on board

If you missed the Main Street Ribbon Cutting event today, here's a little clip of the action!

Post by City of Danville, Office of Economic Development.

Happy Holidays to everyone! Looking forward to 2014 and all the new and exciting things it will bring the the River District.

To the tune of "People Get Ready"
Lyrics by Karl Stauber, Danville Regional Foundation

Danville is ready, there's change 'a coming
You don't need that old baggage
Just get on board
All We need is a little Faith, and you hear the businesses humming
Don't need no ticket
We just all need to get on board.  

Danville marks milestone for first streetscape phase

Calling downtown the hallmark of any city, Danville officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday for the first phase of the River District streetscape project. The ceremony marked the close of construction in the 300, 400 and 500 blocks of Main Street and the block of Union Street between Main and Spring streets.

Mayor Sherman Saunders said the streetscape project and other improvements were essential to attract private investment.

“The downtown of a city is like the living room of your home,” Saunders said. “If people come to your home, they normally enter through the living room. Their impression of the rest of your house is determined by your living room.”

Saunders said past impressions of Danville’s downtown were not favorable.
Potential investors, he said, “took their money” elsewhere. “We knew we had to invest in our downtown,” Saunders said.

Construction on the first phase of the streetscape project began in September 2012. The activity ranged from widening sidewalks and installing brick pavers to creating more visible and safer pedestrian crossings, upgrading utilities and providing amenities such as trees, benches and new lighting.

City Manager Joe King was the purpose of the streetscape project was more than to make the downtown “pretty, but to create an atmosphere for investment and enjoyment.”
Karl Stauber, president and chief executive of the Danville Regional Foundation, said the improvements along Main Street present a striking transformation.

“I invite you to look down Main Street,” Stauber said. “Three years ago, what you would have seen was a tired city. Now when you look down Main Street, you see a city of possibilities.”

The foundation has been a partner in the River District project, and it provided funding for the purchase and demolition of the former Downtowner Motor Inn on Main Street. The building was demolished last year. After standing empty for more than two decades, the demolition was a focal point for blight eradication and redevelopment in the River District.

“The River District is demonstrating to people here and people outside how we are moving forward,” Stauber said. “In the last three years, we have gone from being a community where you heard a lot of ‘cannot do’ talk to what you see now is a community focused on ‘can do.’”

Saunders and King acknowledged that merchants along Main and Union streets were negatively affected during the construction process. “Today, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to our merchants and their patrons for their patience,” Saunders said.

King encouraged residents to support these merchants.

Construction continues in the second phase of streetscape improvements. This phase began in April of this year. It includes creation of the Main Street Plaza and installation of a fountain in front of Lou’s Antiques and Jakes on Main.

The streetscape phases are part of the broader River District Development Project, which is in its third year. As part of the project, the city has adopted design guidelines for the look and feel of buildings in the district; converted Patton Street to two-way traffic in order to provide better access to businesses and parking lots serving stores on Main Street; opened a new parking lot at 500 Main St.; and conducted a parking study for the full district.

Designs are being developed for creation of a pedestrian lane on the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge to connect the walking trail on the north side of the Dan River to the Main Street Plaza and the walking trail on the south side of the river.

The River District has attracted $78 million in private investment over five years, with much of the activity having taken place since the start of the River District Development Project. That figure outpaces public investment by threefold.

For more information, visit www.riverdistrictdanville.com.

Going to the Parade?

 

 

Riverview Rotary Parade start time has been changed to 7 p.m. This year's theme is "Christmas Movies." Join us for a fabulous display of floats, cars, marching bands, marching units and more. Greet Santa and Mrs. Claus as we welcome the holiday season. Click here for more information and also find tips for parade goers here.

Additional Holiday events in the River District

Friday, December 13

The Luminary Trail Walk -  6 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the Crossing at the Dan at the Community Market. Celebrate the season with a candlelight walk along the Riverwalk while listening to holiday music. Warm festive refreshments will be served.

 

Saturday, December 14

Wine and Beer Tasting from Noon to 5 p.m. at Vintages by the Dan. Rod Tomlinson will be pouring the Boulevard Tank 7 and Kelly's Hard Cider.  The will also be opening Crane Lake's Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvgnon. These well priced California wines would be perfect for a holiday party!

Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting at 4 p.m. in the Main Street Plaza (in front of Lou's Antiques, Jake's on Main, and Amburn and Co. Salon and Spa on Main). Canned food will be collected for God's Storehouse. Arrive early to hear the carolers and local singers before we light the tree!

New Christmas tree in the Main Street Plaza

Thursday, December 12, 2013

By DENICE THIBODEAU

godanriver.com

The Downtown Danville Association’s new Christmas tree was planted Thursday, just in time for its official lighting at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The tree replaces one inadvertently cut down during the River District streetscape project last summer, according to Jerry Amburn, who has been the association’s Christmas Tree Committee chair for several years.
Bert Lewis, of Lewis Nursery in Cascade, said the new Foster Holly tree will grow to be 18-20 feet tall and grow at a rate of about a foot a year. The tree is in the landscaped area at the top of the parking lot stairs, between Lou’s Antique Mall and Jake’s on Main.

After enjoying the tree lighting ceremony and carolers, guests can get into prime positions for the Danville Riverview Rotary Parade, which begins at 7 p.m.

The Main Street ribbon cutting — celebrating completion of phase one of the River District streetscape project — has been rescheduled to 9:30 a.m. Dec. 20, at the intersection of Floyd and Main streets.

 

Thibodeau reports for the Danville Register & Bee.

River District Events and Ribbon Cutting Rescheduled.

 

Construction on the 300, 400 and 500 blocks of Main Street is complete!
Please join us for a ribbon cutting in celebration of the first phase of the Streetscape project in the River District.

 

 

 

 

Due to the possibility of inclement weather on Saturday, the Main Street Ribbon Cutting will be postponed to next Friday, December 20^th at 9:30 a.m.

Please be advised that this DOES NOT affect the Danville Riverview Rotary Parade or the Downtown Danville Association’s Christmas Tree Lighting Event. All questions regarding these holiday events can be directed to the responsible organization.

 

Please join us for the following events THIS WEEKEND

 

Thursday, December 12

Live music at 6:30 p.m. at Dell'Anno's Pizza Kitchen

 

Friday, December 13

The Luminary Trail Walk -  6 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the Crossing at the Dan at the Community Market. Celebrate the season with a candlelight walk along the Riverwalk while listening to holiday music. Warm festive refreshments will be served.

 

Saturday, December 14

Wine and Beer Tasting from Noon to 5 p.m. at Vintages by the Dan. Rod Tomlinson will be pouring the Boulevard Tank 7 and Kelly's Hard Cider.  The will also be opening Crane Lake's Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvgnon. These well priced California wines would be perfect for a holiday party!

Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting at 4 p.m. in the Main Street Plaza (in front of Lou's Antiques, Jake's on Main, and Amburn and Co. Salon and Spa on Main. Canned food will be collected for God's Storehouse. Arrive early to hear the carolers and local singers before we light the tree!

Riverview Rotary Parade at 7 p.m. Click here for more information This year's theme is "Christmas Movies." Join us for a fabulous display of floats, cars, marching bands, marching units and more. Greet Santa and Mrs. Claus as we welcome the holiday season.

Holiday decorations return to dowtown

Danville Public Works Department workers last week began hanging the red holiday banners and candy canes that until last year had adorned the street light poles on Main and Union streets downtown from Thanksgiving through Christmas since 2004.

Due to the start last year of the first phase of the streetscape project, city workers were unable to hang lights and other holiday decorations a year ago.

With the project now mostly complete, the decorations have returned.

In the days ahead, Public Works and Utilities crews will hang snowflake lights and swags on Main Street and wreaths on Craghead Street.

The annual effort is aimed at making downtown streets festive in preparation for events such as the annual Holiday Market, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Community Market, and the annual Luminary Trail Walk, which will be held Friday, Dec. 13, at the Crossing at the Dan.
In addition, the annual Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade will return Saturday, Dec. 14, to its traditional downtown route along Main Street.

Construction on the first phase of the streetscape project began in September 2012. The project focused on three blocks of Main Street and one block of Union Street. The activity ranged from widening sidewalks and installing brick pavers to creating more visible and safer pedestrian crossings and providing amenities such as trees, benches and new lighting.

The city is in the process of creating a punch list or list of final tasks for the general contractor, Virginia Carolina Paving of South Boston, to carry out in order to end this phase. The contractor will receive that list this week.

Construction continues in the second phase of streetscape improvements. This phase began in April of this year. It includes creation of the Main Street Plaza and installation of a fountain in front of Lou’s Antiques and Jakes on Main.

Masonry work on the fountain is scheduled for completion in the next two weeks. When completed, concrete will be poured around the fountain. The other remaining tasks include installation of light poles and benches in the plaza and construction of crosswalks on Memorial Drive and Craghead Street.

River District Events - November 22nd & 23rd

The Holiday Bazaar

Saturday, November 23rd - Kick off your holiday season at one of our favorite events at the Danville Community Market. Browse dozens of vendors selling the finest in handmade crafts, jewelry, baked goods, jams, jellies, treats and more! Free admission (Click here: http://ow.ly/r37F5)

A Holiday Open House

Saturday, November 23rd - Chestnut Lane and Vintages by the Dan will have wine and beer tastings, special sales, craft demonstration, food samplings, and representatives from the following vendors for purchases and orders:  Initial It, Tastefully Simple, Rodan & Fields, and Origami Owl (Click here http://ow.ly/r3aoL)

The Golden Leaf Bistro

Friday, November 22nd - Click here to learn about their music entertainment for tomorrow evening. Saxophone Extraordinaire Tony Bowman live Friday night at 6:30 in the main dining room. The Golden Leaf Bistro is now open for lunch on Saturdays.

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Congratulations to the Danville Science Center

"The J.T.-Minnie Maude Charitable Trust bestowed a gift of $100,000 to the Danville Science Center this week. The funds will go toward the center’s 'Create the Wonder' campaign, an initiative to help bring new programming to the Science Center’s Digital Dome Theater." Click here for the full article.

Streetscape Update

River District residents, employees, and visitors: Watch for altered traffic patterns next week during milling and paving on several blocks.

Pemberton Lofts - Open House

You're Invited!

 

Thursday, September 5

4:30 p.m.

541 Bridge Street

 

Hosted By: Hampton Wilkins

 

For more information on the Pemberton Lofts, visit www.pembertonlofts.com

 

 

 

 

 

JTI Fountain Groundbreaking

The fountain and plaza are part of the second phase of streetscape improvements in the River District. Construction began in April with the shift of downtown bridge traffic and installation of a storm drainage system. Since then, a pedestrian walkway with brick pavers has been put in place from Craghead Street and Memorial Drive to Bridge Street.

The plaza’s most notable amenity, however, will be a multi-stage fountain that will be 40 feet in diameter. In the upper stage, seven water jets will shoot water vertically. The seven jets represent the Tobacco Warehouse District’s seven blocks, from the Carrington Pavilion to the new fountain.
Below the jets will be scuppers that will allow the water to flow into the lower stage. Spills will be placed at each end. The fountain also will feature programmable color lighting.

The fountain will be the focal point of the pedestrian plaza under construction in front of Lou’s Antiques, Jake’s on Main and Amburn & Co. Salon and Spa on Main.

JTI donated the money to pay for the materials and construction of the fountain to symbolize the legacy of tobacco as an economic engine for Danville over a span of four centuries. JTI buys tobacco from farmers and processes it at its Danville facility. The company is a division of Japan Tobacco Inc., headquartered in Switzerland.

Mayor Saunders thanks Steve Daniels on behalf of the City of Danville.

 

The fountain is expected to be completed in about 4 months.

Downtown Danville Association Moves Forward

Posted: Friday, August 9, 2013

Work It, SoVa newsadvance.com

The Downtown Danville Association welcomes three new officers and five new members to its board of directors, as a result of elections held at the recent annual meeting.

Elected to fill the slots of president, vice president, and treasurer are Jeffrey Bond, Dewberry; Wendi Goods-Everson, Danville Regional Foundation; and Richard Phelps, National Guard. They join Corrie Teague of the Danville Office of Economic Development, who continues as secretary. The new officers replace Robert Brooks, Dale Hutchens and Peggy Wright.
 

Joining the DDA board of directors are Cara Burton, Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History; Marietta Sanford, Averett University; Robin Jones, Vintages by the Dan; Barbara Seamster, 1045TheDan & Co. Legends 103.7; and Varun Sadana, The Launch Place.

Board members who will continue to serve include Jerry Amburn, Amburn and Co. Salon and Spa on Main; Robert Brooks, retired; Steve Farrar, retired; Phillip Hayes, Noblis; Dale Hutchens, Wilkins & Co. Realtors; Kelvin Perry, First State Bank; Earl Reynolds, City of Danville; Serena Rigsby, First Citizens Bank; and Peggy Wright, Averett University.

"The DDA is at an exciting juncture in its history", said Bond. "As a result of grant funding from the Danville Regional Foundation, we are working with a consultant to improve and enhance the organization and its positive impact on the River District." Added Brooks, "I am very confident that our new officers and board members will continue to move the organization forward, so we can serve a vital part of Danville's future."

Founded in 1999, the Downtown Danville Association is a registered non-profit, established with the goal of promoting and advocating for the city's traditional core downtown area. It currently has nearly 100 members from across the city and the region.



From Left to Right: Richard Phelps, Jeffrey Bond, Wendi Everson, and Corrie Teague 

 

Imagination Playground debuting at Danville Science Center

Posted: Wednesday, August 7, 2013
By DENICE THIBODEAU

Photo courtesy Tom Moore/Imagination Playground

Enormous lightweight blocks in a variety of shapes will be the centerpiece of a new interactive children’s exhibit at Danville Science Center set to premiere from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The Imagination Playground can be set up indoors or out, and Science Center Executive Director Jeff Liverman said the weather will dictate where visitors to the center will find it.

“If it’s raining, it will be set up in the Community Market,” Liverman said. “If it’s nice out, it will be outside.”

Children can build whatever inspires them and play on their creations afterward.
All of this “play” is a cleverly disguised effort to reinforce principals of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) sciences in the young participants.

The block system “allows children of multiple ages to have access to productive and collaborative play while experientially integrating concepts of physics, math and engineering,” according to a news release from the Science Center. “With the full dome theater expansion project slated for completion by the end of this year, our campus at The Crossing at the Dan will include more outdoor areas.
Through this project, not only will STEM learning and cooperative play be enhanced in our community, but as a designated site in Danville’s ‘Play City’ initiative, these new exhibits will nicely support the city’s work in expanding and promoting economically and physically accessible play spaces.”

While the blocks — “There are a whole lot of them,” Liverman said — will be stored at the science center permanently they will not always be available.

“We’ll bring them out for special events. For instance, they will be out at the Carrington Pavilion for children to play with during (the River District Festival, Oct. 3-4),” Liverman said.

Click here to access the original release

Click here for more photos

 

The Golden Leaf Bistro

New upscale dining in The River District held a grand opening July 25, 2013.

WSET News Story

 

www.goldenleafbistro.com

 

 

Save the Date! River District Festival - October 4-5

 

For more information visit www.riverdistrictfestival.org

 

Span the Dan: Pedestrian Bridge Concepts

The Span the Dan Movement is looking for input on the Dan River Mill Pedestrian Bridge.

 

The bridge is located between the White Mill and the new YMCA. The Danville Regional Foundation is looking for public opinions on what the structure could be in the future.

Clikc here to give your opinion!

The Digital Dome - Danville Science Center

The Digital Dome has arrived!

 

The structure has a temporary home in the parking lot, while crews finish the walkway that will connect the large format theatre to the Danville Science Center.  

Below is a sketch of the finished product. For more information, visit http://www.dsc.smv.org/happening/dome.asp

New Parking Lot Opens on Main Street

Danville, VA Local Government News and Announcements
Posted on: June 5, 2013
Click here to view the original release.

A new public parking located in the 500 block of Main Street in the heart of the River District is now open. The landscaped lot provides 30 spaces, including two handicapped spaces.
Parking will be limited to two hours.

City officials believe the spaces will provide relief for citizens who patronize businesses in that section of the River District.

Additional means of relief will be addressed following completion of a parking study for the River District. A final report from the study will be issued this summer.

The new parking lot now available to the public was formerly a privately owned lot located between First Citizens Bank and the former Downtowner Motor Inn. The Danville Industrial Authority purchased the lot last year during demolition of the Downtowner.

To create 30 spaces, the IDA used about 15 feet of space of the Downtowner lot. The decision on the use of the remainder of the Downtowner lot, which features a steep drop in grade, has been postponed until completion of the parking study.

The money to pay for construction of the 30 spaces came from the budget used for demolition of the Downtowner. The demolition project was nearly a yearlong process that began in January 2012 with removal of asbestos. Demolition took place during the summer. The project ended with construction of a retaining wall and grading in the fall and early winter.

Streetscape Update: Completed 300 Block

May 28, 2013
Whitney Delbridge
ABC13

A large portion of phase one construction on Main Street in Danville is complete.

Last week paving on the first block of Main Street finally wrapped up after months of work.

The plan included replacing the sidewalks with brick walkways, as well as adding benches and planting trees.

Business owners and residents alike are happy to see at least part of the project complete.

"We are so thrilled that it's over. It absolutely looks gorgeous out there so I think it was for the good. It was worth the wait from what I can see, " said 316 Cibo Assistant Manager Michelle Muso.

Phase one is continuing as the construction now moves further up Main Street, and work on phase two has already begun across the intersection of Main and Craghead Street.
Click here to access this video news story.

Watch the River District Grow

Smith Seeds Open House

Thursday, May 2

315 Lynn St

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m

 

 Hosted By Hampton Wilkins

 

 

 

 

 

For information on prices and availability, contact Wilkins and Co. at (434) 797-4007.

 

Parking During Streetscape Improvements

The City of Danville and the Downtown Danville Association encourage you to continue to support River District businesses, especially during the Streetscape Improvement project. Phase II of this project and construction on the 400 block of Main Street are already underway. There are recent changes to traffic patterns and parking that you should be aware of. The map below will help guide you through these changes.

Click here to download a copy of this map.

Martin Luther King Bridge Approach Detour

Beginning Monday, April 22, 2013, weather and conditions permitting, the northbound diagonal approach to the Martin Luther King Bridge in front of Lou’s Antiques will be closed to traffic.  This permanent street closure is necessary to construct the River District Gateway Plaza.  Traffic will turn left from Craghead Street onto Patton Street to cross the Martin Luther King Bridge.

The center median on Craghead Street between Main and Patton Street has been shifted to allow two lanes for traffic to turn left toward the bridge.  Message boards are being used to alert motorists about the new traffic pattern.  Drivers from the south are encouraged to use Patton Street to cross the Dan River and avoid delays on Craghead Street.

Detour in 300 block of Main Street begins Monday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:  Friday, March 8, 2013

 

Beginning Monday and continuing for the remainder of the week, vehicular travel and parking will be restricted in the 300 block of Main Street, from Market Street to the intersection of Memorial Drive and Craghead Street.

For most of the week, travel will be restricted to one lane, with motorists traveling northbound toward the river being detoured onto Market Street toward Spring Street.

Motorists traveling southbound away from the river will use the one lane that will remain open in that block. This lane, however, will be shifted at various times, so motorists should proceed cautiously and follow the traffic cone patterns that will be set up.

The detour and other travel restrictions will allow for scheduled construction activity, including the installation of a manhole, repair of sanitary sewer lines, and placement of crosswalks at Main and Market streets and Main Street and Memorial Drive/Craghead Street. This activity is part of the streetscape project.

Parking in the block will be limited for most of the week.

Construction activity Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night may result in further detour of traffic. Parking in the 300 block during these times will not be allowed.

Two-way traffic will be restored the following week, but parking may continue to be limited in this block for three to four days as work continues on placement of crosswalks.

Click here to access detour map.

Your Opinion Matters!

Have Input on the Future of Downtown Danville

The Downtown Danville Association is undertaking an important assessment and planning process, and we need your help!

You are invited to attend one of four Downtown Focus Groups which will meet Thursday, February 21^st and Friday, February 22^nd, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., at City Hall.  Given the exciting attention and investment focused Downtown and the River District, we recognize growing opportunities to respond to resource gaps and support Downtown/River District businesses, residents and visitors.  We need input from stakeholders like you as we explore:

·         Real and perceived barriers for attracting and retaining businesses and Danville residents to Downtown and the River District

·         Ways for a support organization like ours to make a meaningful and substantive difference to economic development and civic life in Downtown and in the River District

Each Focus Group will last no more than one hour.  Led by an outside facilitator, Bethany Chaney, the discussion format is designed to be interactive and candid.  (DDA board members will not be in attendance.)  Coffee and light refreshments will be available.

To RSVP, please click on the link below and choose the date and time that works best for you.  The facilitator will send a reminder and a set of guiding questions to those who can attend.  Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, February 19^th at close of business. 

RSVP HERE:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TG5L27X

Thank you for your time and help!    

Sincerely,

Downtown Danville Association Board of Directors

Robert Brooks, President

Corrie Teague, Secretary

Coming to Main Street: 30 new parking spaces

By DENICE THIBODEAU
dthibodeau@registerbee.com
(434) 791-7985 newsadvance.com

There will soon be 30 new public parking spaces in downtown Danville at the former Downtowner site.

 The Danville Industrial Development Authority voted unanimously Thursday to table ideas for the smaller, lower section of the site, but it will create 30 parking spaces on the larger, upper part of the lot.

The Danville Industrial Development Authority voted unanimously Thursday to table ideas for the smaller, lower section of the site, but it will create 30 parking spaces on the larger, upper part of the lot.

 Click here to access the entire Register and Bee article.