Downtown or traditional commercial districts are the most visible indicators of community pride, along with economic and social health. It is either an asset or a liability in the effort to recruit new residents, new businesses and industries, retirees, tourists, and others to a community, and to keep those already present. Quality of life is what separates successful cities and towns from declining communities in the new millennium. Finally, a downtown or neighborhood commercial district is the visual representation for a community's heritage. The architecture of a commercial district is a physical expression of a community's history. The Main Street approach encourages forward-thinking economic development in an historic preservation context so this community asset and legacy can be passed on to future generations.

Because preservation-based commercial district revitalization entails the participation of so many people and entities in the community, a wide range of people also benefit from commercial district revitalization.

Most Main Streets probably didn't deteriorate overnight, and they won't be revitalized quickly, either. Using the Main Street Approach is hard work, but it can substantially improve the health of a commercial district by giving a community an effective framework for its revitalization efforts.

Historic preservation has many advantages, but most of all, it’s simply a matter of good sense. It's smart to protect older buildings and neighborhoods because they’re aesthetically appealing, they’re useful, and they help us understand ourselves as individuals and as a nation.

*taken from the National Trust Main Street Center site,
 http://mainstreet.org/content.aspx?page=2000 *