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Center in the Square

An Effective Practice

Description

Center in the Square, located in a renovated warehouse in downtown Roanoke, was created to provide free housing for four major cultural organizations--a theater, a science museum, a history museum, and an arts council. An unprecedented level of citizen input about the project and strong leadership were two keys to the project's success. Since the Center's opening in 1983, 240 new businesses have opened in the neighborhood, adding new life and job opportunities for an area that many had considered lost to deterioration and crime. The Center in the Square has been a crucial catalyst for further downtown economic development.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this project was to create a regional cultural center that would provide rent-free housing, security, building maintenance, and housekeeping for several struggling museums and live theater.

Results / Accomplishments

Center in the Square has created an anchor in downtown Roanoke, attracting new businesses to the region with over 350 new businesses opening since the center was established. The Center has an estimated economic influence on the region of $25 million each year. The program's success has inspired $500 million in construction and renovation projects in the area. The Center serves over 400,000 visitors annually and has attracted over 9 million visitors since opening.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
City of Roanoke
Primary Contact
James C. Sears, Ed.D
One Market Square
Roanoke, VA 24011-1434
(540) 342-5700
center@centerinthesquare.org
http://www.centerinthesquare.org
Topics
Art & Recreation / Libraries & Museums
Economy / Economic Climate
Community / Community & Business Resources
Organization(s)
City of Roanoke
Date of publication
2010
Date of implementation
1983
Location
Roanoke, VA

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Related Content for: Center in the Square

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.
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