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her department has had to put much more empha- remainder coming from membership dues and sis on zoning, not planning, due to lack of fundraising events. This taxing district, known resources. It is the city planning function that usu- elsewhere as a Business Improvement District, pro- ally is more relevant to downtown development vides a level of funding security for a downtown efforts than is the zoning function. That being said, organization. In 2000,St. Charles was awarded the both parties agreed that the Heart of Danville has prestigious Great American Main Street award. not actively sought the assistance and involvement of this department in downtown projects and plans. Catalyst for a Strong Partnership The private/public partnership that prevails ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS between DSCP and the city of St. Charles is exem- The city of St. Charles (pop. 28,000)was found- platy. The catalyst for this strong relationship was ed in 1834 and is located 30 miles west of Chicago. an announcement from the Illinois Department of Positioned in the fast growing and highly populat- Transportation in the mid-1990s that the Main ed western suburbs, it is surrounded by larger sub- Street Bridge (State Highway 64) would require urban cities such as Elgin, Aurora and Naperville. extensive repairs and road widening. The downtown lies on both sides of the Fox River The city and DSCP joined forces to mobilize pub- and is bisected by three state highways—including lic reaction and to inject community ideas for the Main Street (Illinois Highway 64) —that generate a redesign of the bridge into the planning process. tremendous volume of pass through commuter traf- The redesigned bridge was completed in 1997 and fir. Two landmark buildings dominate the down- included many of the design elements requested by town skyline: the recently renovated Hotel Baker on this partnership, including four attractive pedestri- the west bank of the river and the Municipal an canopies, overlooks, wide sidewalks, benches Building,a distinctive Art Moderne structure with its and landscaping. 84 foot tower erected in 1940, on the east bank. In The process of working together also set the recent years, restaurants and antiques stores have foundation for the continuously strong working become the focus of downtown commercial activity relationship that has endured. Robert Hupp, St. Charles joined the Main Street program in Community Development director for the city, said 1995 with the establishment of the Downtown St. that today"there is wide consensus in City Hall that Charles Partnership(DSCP). The DSCP profession- the downtown is critical to the city's future and that • al staff includes an executive director and a market- working hand-in-hand with DSCP is a key to that ing director, both hired in 2001. A full-time mar- future." keting director provides DSCP with tremendous The city makes substantial financial contribu- opportunities to spend more time on promotions, tions to the downtown organization. It administers event coordination and marketing activities than the special services tax district wherein downtown would otherwise be feasible. The organization is property is subjected to an extra tax that funnels governed by the five-person executive committee,a funds directly into DSCP for downtown projects board of directors with eight voting members and and events. The city also has earmarked money for seven ex-officio members, and has spawned five specific downtown projects, such as streetscape standing committees: Marketing & Promotion, improvements, the downtown strategy plan and a Organization,Design,Economic Restructuring,and proposed parking structure, from the city's general Parking&Traffic. All but the last committee corre funds. Moreover, the city has set up a generous sponds with the four elements of the Main Street facade improvement grant program that Mayor Sue approach. Klinkhamer declares is "probably the most gener- A special service-taxing district was created for ous in the state." In 2001, for example, $150,000 the downtown that generates approximately 75 per- was made available for facade improvements on cent of DSCP's annual operating funds, with the downtown buildings. The city council and the mayor are both intri- cately involved with DSCP. Two city aldermen sit on the DSCP Board of Directors. And Mayor The rivate/p ublic Partnership that Prevails Klinkhamer's support and commitment to down- between DSCP and the city of St. Charles is exem- town and the Main Street approach would be the platy. The catalyst for this strong relationship was envy of most communities. Beyond being a strong advocate for DSCP, she has attended several an announcement f rom the Illinois Department o f National Main Street annual conferences, served as Transportation in the mid-1990s that the Main a juror for the 2002 Great American Main Street Street Bridge (State Highway 64) would require selection process and is the only elected official who extensive repairs and road widening. sits on the Illinois Main Street Council. L 56 Economic Development Journal / Fall 2002