Corning, NY - October 4, 2013 - The American Planning Association (APA) today announced the designation of Market Street as one of 10 Great Streets for 2013. Each year during National Community Planning Month APA's Great Places in America program names 30 exemplary streets, neighborhoods and public spaces to highlight the role planning and planners play in adding value to communities, including fostering economic growth and jobs.
APA singled out Market Street for its Victorian architecture, efforts by citizens dating back to the 1960s and 1970s seeking to protect the town's historic character, downtown capital improvements initiated by the city, and efforts to expand business ownership and activity along the street.
"It's absolutely wonderful to learn that Market Street has been named one of the APA's Great Places in America," notes Coleen Fabrizi, Executive Director for Corning's Gaffer District. "Market Street is the extraordinary result of a passionate commitment to treasure the past while creating an environment and sense of place to last for generations. It's everybody's Market Street, whether you have lived here your entire life, just visiting or looking for your new home, falling in love with this "Great Place" is inevitable," Fabrizi continued.
"Market Street and its outstanding Victorian architecture define downtown Corning," said APA Chief Executive Officer Paul Farmer, FAICP. "Beautifully restored buildings are only part of the story, however. Equally important to downtown Corning's success has been planning and plan implementation by citizens, local businesses, the Fortune 500 company, Corning, Inc., and the city," he added.
More than 100 store-front businesses with upper-floor living quarters occupy the beautifully restored, opulent 19th century Victorian commercial buildings along Market Street. Leading the call during the 1960s to protect the street's outstanding architecture - some of which date back 180 years - was a group of women that included Ernestine King, Jinny Wright and Jean Wosinski.
Interest in planning and plan implementation gained further momentum in 1972 in the wake of Hurricane Agnes, which left Market Street four feet under water. Two years later Market Street was named part of a National Historic District in Corning.
Market Street also became a prototype for the national "Main Street" program designed to help communities develop strong, locally owned businesses. Contributing to the success of several Market Street businesses has been continuity of ownership by generations of the same families.
Downtown capital improvements have included a $5.2 million renovation in 2012 of the pedestrian-only Centerway Arch Bridge, which connects Market Street with The Corning Museum of Glass. In the pipeline is a $6 million Corning Transportation Center that will allow the city to better accommodate tour buses that bring a half-million visitors to the glass museum and downtown Corning each year.
APA's Great Streets, Great Neighborhoods and Great Public Spaces feature unique and authentic characteristics that have evolved from years of thoughtful and deliberate planning by residents, community leaders and planners. The 2013 Great Places have many things Americans say are important to their "ideal community" including locally owned businesses, transit, neighborhood parks, and sidewalks. They illustrate how the foresight of planning fosters communities of lasting value.
The nine other APA 2013 Great Streets are: North and South Walnut Street, Milford, DE; Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL; Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI; Bridge Street, Las Vegas, NM; C Street, Virginia City, NV; Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA; Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA; The Strand, Galveston, TX; and West Beverley Street, Staunton, VA.
For more information about these streets, as well as APA's top 10 Great Neighborhoods and top 10 Great Public Spaces for 2013 and previous years, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces. For more about National Community Planning Month taking place throughout October visit www.planning.org/ncpm.
The American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities. APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning -- physical, economic and social -- so as to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. Members of APA help create communities of lasting value and encourage civic leaders, business interests and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people's lives. APA has offices in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Ill. For more information, visit www.planning.org.
