Re-development of the Main street area (Hampton: apartment, condo, hotels)

[davey123]

[SIZE=3]I noticed that there has been very little discussion in this room in the past few days. So, I thought that I would throw out a topic for discussion. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]A few weeks ago I attended the Urban Tour 2009 on Main Street. I really enjoyed this event, as it gave me an opportunity go into several of the buildings on Main Street, as well as learn about the history of some of these buildings. In my opinion, the Main Street area is the true gem of the downtown. It has that classic downtown look; and the architecture of many of the buildings is quite picturesque. I know that this area is being re-developed. It would be great to see nice restaurants and shops in this area. I say this because you can feel the history of the area when you walk through it. It would truly be a shame if this area did not thrive. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]My question is: With the Vista and Five Points areas thriving, how likely is it that the Main Street area will come back in some meaningful way? Moreover, what would it take to get more people to go to that area of the downtown? [/SIZE]

[waccamatt]

I think a continuation of apartment conversions is the primary way Main Street will have more of a night-time presence. With the Vista and Five Points areas of downtown with many bars and restaurants, it will take the infusion of additional people for Main Street to become a similar district. I think when the Nickelodeon moves to the north side of the State House, it will draw a good number of people to that area at night and that will stretch the nighttime focus from the new Sheraton and the Marriott up the street to include the Art Museum block and the new Nickelodeon. Also, three popular restaurants - Hennessey's, Mac's on Main and Villa Tronco - are all within a block north of the new location for the Nickelodeon.

[Intergalactic]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

I think a continuation of apartment conversions is the primary way Main Street will have more of a night-time presence. With the Vista and Five Points areas of downtown with many bars and restaurants, it will take the infusion of additional people for Main Street to become a similar district. I think when the Nickelodeon moves to the north side of the State House, it will draw a good number of people to that area at night and that will stretch the nighttime focus from the new Sheraton and the Marriott up the street to include the Art Museum block and the new Nickelodeon. Also, three popular restaurants - Hennessey's, Mac's on Main and Villa Tronco - are all within a block north of the new location for the Nickelodeon.

This is exactly what I was going to say. My only addition is that there is no 24 hour convenience store nearby. If that Dunkin Donuts opens up, perhaps that will add to the mix.

[Columbiadata]

There already is more nighttime activity on Main compared to just a year ago. The art museum's evening events and the new Sheraton have created somewhat of a new vibe, and with the new restaurant slated for the ground floor of the Tower at Main and Gervais, the activity along Main should increase. It'll just be a matter of time when the economy comes back.

[davey123]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

I think a continuation of apartment conversions is the primary way Main Street will have more of a night-time presence. With the Vista and Five Points areas of downtown with many bars and restaurants, it will take the infusion of additional people for Main Street to become a similar district. I think when the Nickelodeon moves to the north side of the State House, it will draw a good number of people to that area at night and that will stretch the nighttime focus from the new Sheraton and the Marriott up the street to include the Art Museum block and the new Nickelodeon. Also, three popular restaurants - Hennessey's, Mac's on Main and Villa Tronco - are all within a block north of the new location for the Nickelodeon.

I guess that you are right. The addition of Nickelodeon and Dunkin Donuts will definitely help also. During the Urban Tour, I remember going into a hotel that had a few bars in it. One of the bars was in a vault. That seemed like a really nice gathering spot. However, because the Vista and Five Points areas have such an array of bars and restaurants to choose from, it seems that they will be bigger draws. I work in the downtown area, and have gone out to eat with my co-workers on many different occasions. They always seem to suggest restaurants and bars in the Vista or Five Points area. In fact, I do not recall any of them every mentioning the Main Street area as a possibility. To be honest, I really did not know what Main Street had to offer until the Urban Tour. (Of course, I blame this on my co-workers for orienting me only to the Five Points and Vista areas )

I'm wondering if the Main Street area will need some different types of restaurants in order to attract more people to that area. Again, I know that Nickelodeon will be a big draw, but once people come from there, they may be inclined to dine in the Vista or Five Points area. Do you think there needs to be a major chain restaurant in the Main Street area? Of course, I do not know what that restaurant would be, or even if there would be room to fit one in. But, it just seems that sometimes a major restaurant can serve to draw people to an area, especially if it's the only one of those restaurants in the city.

[waccamatt]

There are already quite a few restaurants in the Main Street corridor. The Sheraton has 2 restaurants - Main Street and Posh, along with 2 other bars - the Vault and the Rooftop (which you really need to check out) and also a Starbucks. The Marriott has a restaurant and bar and the other restaurants that are also open at night are Hampton Street Vineyard, Hennessey's, Villa Tronco, Mac's on Main and
M Cafe. Once Nickelodeon moves and that increases foot traffic, maybe more of the daytime restaurants will stay open at night. Having 2 large hotels (and the smaller Rodeway Inn), along with several apartment and condo complexes is a great start to having more nighttime activity on Main Street. Of course I don't ever see Main Street's nightlife comparing to that in the other 2 districts - Five Points and the Vista. If the downtown area's population continues to grow, however, you never know, especially after the old State Hospital property gets developed.

[Intergalactic]

Originally Posted by davey123

....One of the bars was in a vault. That seemed like a really nice gathering spot.

That's The Whig.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Intergalactic

That's The Whig.

I think he was talking about the bar at the Sheraton on the main level in the old bank vault.

[davey123]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

I think he was talking about the bar at the Sheraton on the main level in the old bank vault.

Yes, that's what I was referring to. That's a nice bar.

[Intergalactic]

The Whig and the bar in the Sheraton are built into old bank vaults? That's cool...