Downtown living is back in style! Cities across North Carolina are converting formerly abandoned or underutilized buildings into unique and fashionable living and working spaces. In short, downtown is “hip”. NCDDA is proud to be part of the trend, helping communities to transform the historic center of North Carolina’s communities into one-of-a-kind living, working and entertainment environments.

What is NCDDA?

The North Carolina Downtown Development Association (NCDDA) is a non-profit membership organization made up of towns, downtown development organizations, chambers of commerce, and private professionals.

Our primary purpose is to create a state-wide network of people and organizations involved and interested in downtown revitalization. NCDDA strives to function as a center for information, a resource for technical training and educational forums, a clearinghouse of ideas, and an advocate for public policy that supports downtown revitalization.

NCDDA Membership Benefits

As a member of NCDDA, you will be able to tap into a network of nearly 100 professionals who work daily on downtown issues. You will also be eligible to receive:

• direct technical assistance
• membership directory
• awards program
• annual conference
• speakers bureau
• legislative updates
• newsletter and e-mail bulletin about downtown projects and issues

Texture, character, uniqueness, convenience...that’s what makes downtown everybody’s neighborhood. In North Carolina’s downtowns , high-tech companies, architects, and venture capitalists rub elbows with old law firms, banking institutions and local government. An exclusive restaurant may share a wall with a professional firm. Bankers, artists, students, and bureaucrats all eat at the same place for lunch. Downtown historic buildings offer classic amenities such as high ceilings, wood flooring, and expansive windows. This wonderful treasure of unique historic structures offers inspiring places for work, living and entertaining.

In this new millennium, more businesses are returning to downtown; more people are living downtown; more families are enjoying the cultural arts located in downtown; and, more people and businesses are seeking an alternative to “suburban sprawl”.

A healthy, growing downtown area is important not only economically, but symbolically as well. Downtown is a community’s “signature”. It is everybody’s “second neighborhood” where, no matter where we live, we come together for festivals, cultural events, politics, government, and business.

While downtown’s present emergence and success is a testament to its durability, there are still serious challenges that must be faced --- parking and the perception of public safety to name just two. While addressing these challenges, and protecting the gains of the recent past, we must continue to keep downtown a community priority and educate our neighbors that “effective smart growth” is epitomized by “downtown revitalization”.

Downtown...

• The visible image of a community;
• The center of government, arts, entertainment and commerce;
• Where public transportation serves everyone in the community;
• The crossroads for people of all races and income groups;
• Where major public infrastructure already exists;
• Where community historic properties are located; and,
• The epitome of “smart growth”

Please join NCDDA on the exciting journey called --- Downtown Revitalization.