President's Message

Progress is “positive movement”. I am happy to report that Downtown Milford, Inc. (DMI) is making progress in all areas of operation. Some of that positive movement is at a speed we are all pleased with; other movement is slower than expected, but is movement nonetheless.

Since my last message, Dan and Rhonda Bond completed their amazing renovation of the “Governor Tharp Building” at the corner of NW Front and Church Streets. This total rehabilitation of one of Milford’s most historic structures surprised many skeptics who saw only condemnation and demolition in the building’s future. The work was financed in part through monies obtained through DMI. The building now houses offices and the LadyBug Shop on the ground level and five modern apartments on the upper levels.

The week of April 28-May 4 was “Ladybug Week”. It started with the most successful “Bug & Bud Festival” ever and culminated with the “Ladybug Gala & Auction” at which many thousands of dollars were raised for DMI and our partner, the Mispillion Art League--all through ticket sales and the auction of the 15 ladybug art forms that had been on display in local businesses prior to the Festival.

Slower progress, yet progress still, is being made in our two main projects. In partnership with the City of Milford, DMI hopes to complete the process of making Milford a “Main Street” community as soon as the state Main Street Office prepares its new application and schedules a training session for prospective members. While DMI emulates a traditional main street community in its current operations, membership will bring much-needed consultative advice to help us better manage in the future. Information about the nation-wide Main Street Program can be found on their website at www.mainstreet.org.

Slow but sure progress is also being made on the extension of the “Streetscape” project on N.E. Front Street, from Washington Street to the renovated Riverwalk Shopping Center. This project will involve the burying of utility lines, removal of utility poles, rebuilding the street surface, and creating sidewalks, plantings, benches, and lighting similar to what we did in the first phases on Walnut and N.W. Front Streets. This project will be funded through the generous help of our local state legislators, Senator Gary Simpson, Representative V. George Carey, and Representative Bob Walls and the in-kind contributions of the City of Milford.

Finally, you may have noticed the unruly bushes along the sidewalks in downtown have been removed by the City. In the near future they will be replaced by annuals and perennials chosen and paid for by DMI’s streetscape improvement fund.

All this work is carried out by our dedicated Executive Director, Beth Durham, and our many volunteers. Ongoing work and future projects will need additional volunteers. Please contact us if you can give a lot or a little of your time.

Pictured above: Downtown Milford, Inc's Board of Directors President, Mitch Crane