By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Salisbury’s Michael and Diane Young were named 2008 Main Street Champions at the recent North Carolina Main Street Annual Awards dinner in Statesville.
Downtown Salisbury Inc. nominated the Youngs “for their exceptional contributions to the downtown revitalization process.”
The Youngs were among Main Street Champions from 35 other communities.
They received certificates presented by N.C. Secretary of Commerce J. Keith Crisco, Assistant Secretary of Commerce Cleveland Simpson, Main Street Assistant Coordinator Teresa Watts and Office of Urban Development Director Liz Parham.
Each of the state’s active Main Street programs ó Salisbury is among them ó is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion. The Main Street Champion designation acknowledges the efforts of people who have played pivotal roles in the revitalization of their downtowns.
“Main Street is a grassroots effort and, in order to be successful, every local program must utilize its community resources ó both financial and human,” Parham said.
“… Main Street Champions are the people who take on the early tasks, the pioneers who go where others often fear to tread, who step forward when others are stepping back, who make the tough calls and those risky investments. They embody the term “community leader,” and they do this because they love their communities. There would be no Main Street successes without Main Street Champions.”
In nominating Michael and Diane Young, Downtown Salisbury Inc. said the Youngs are a team having a significant impact on the face of downtown Salisbury.
Michael served as executive director of Downtown Salisbury, Inc. in the 1980s, and both Michael and Diane come from a Main Street manager background, giving them insight into ways to help Salisbury’s Main Street program.
The Youngs were instrumental in the creation of a local historic district for the downtown. Once the district was established, Michael served on the Historic Preservation Commission for six years, the last two as chairman. He also served on DSI committees for six years.
Working with the HPC behind the scenes, Diane serves on the design review assistance committee, reviewing projects and making suggestions before they are presented to the HPC. She is also a member of the Salisbury Planning Board and has been a champion of both preservation and quality development.
“Diane is well versed in building codes, and as a licensed contractor, has overseen the rehabilitation of many significant buildings in downtown Salisbury, including one building owned by DSI,” the nomination said.
The Youngs also invested in four properties, two of which they still own. “Their four Innes Street apartments set the standard for downtown living, and they have helped acquire businesses that have made a significant impact on the downtown and the local economy,” the nomination said.
At the awards dinner in Statesville, the Youngs also won a state award for their adaptive reuse of the East Innes Street property where Uncle Buck’s restaurant is now located.
Diane and Michael Young are owners and officers of Downtown Graphics Network Inc., which specializes in downtown banners.
Main Street is a downtown revitalization program for smaller towns based on economic development within the context of historic preservation. The North Carolina Main Street Program, which provides technical assistance to its communities, is part of the Office of Urban Development in the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.
In 1980, North Carolina was one of six original states, selected from 38 that applied, to launch the work of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center. The North Carolina Main Street Program began working with its five original cities ó New Bern, Salisbury, Shelby, Tarboro and Washington ó in September 1980 and has since grown to include 57 communities across the state.