Years: 2007- 2008
Get Gaines Going accelerated the ongoing efforts to revitalize and develop Gaines Street as an arts and entertainment district. They were successful in pushing up the timetable for the Gaines Street redevelopment by 11 years. Get Gaines Going worked with community leaders to create incentives moved the project forward at a quicker pace and eliminated hurdles that previously caused delays.
Research shows that people are now choosing where to live before choosing where to work. The development of Gaines Street created a more vibrant sense of place and encouraged members of the creative sector to locate in the region. The revitalization of Gaines Street resulted in $456 million in private investment.
Throughout the project year, this team operated as a non-funded political action committee, consistently meeting with city leaders and encouraging them to make decisions and take action in the best interest of the Gaines Street corridor. The team also supported businesses and individuals with an interest in Gaines Street to communicate better with one another.
As the catalysts’ year-long commitment ended, some team members chose to continue working with local leaders by sitting on the newly created Gaines Street Vitalization Committee, where they have a voice in the future of the corridor.
For more information about the Gaines Street revitalization, visit talgov.com/gaines.
Community Catalysts
These are the people who helped make this project possible.
- Lester Abberger
- Sheila Costigan
- Allison DeFoor
- Bryan Desloge
- Bradford Lewis
- TJ Lewis
- Bill Moor
- Gloria Pugh