Old Buildings, New Attitudes

Lee’s Summit was recently honored with 3 Downtown Revitalization Awards at Missouri Main Street Connection’s Evening of Excellence. The City of Lee’s Summit won Best Downtown Public Improvement Project for its downtown streetscape improvements, and Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., won Best Creative Fundraising Event for its Piccadilly Gala.  Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., also won the highest honor of the evening, the Greatest Achievement Award, for the best downtown revitalization organization in the state.  The event was held in the Congress Ballroom at the Hilton President Hotel in Downtown Kansas City and capped off Missouri Main Street Connection’s Missouri Downtown Revitalization Conference. 

Judges included a staff representative from the National Trust Main Street Center, a field representative from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a State Main Street Director from a neighboring Midwestern state.  Judges chose winners based on the following criteria: quality support materials, accurate documentation and written narrative; information presented was informative and directly meets the criteria described under the award category; achieves substantial impact on the downtown district and/or organization; demonstrates efficient use of available local resources. ie. people, other organizations, partners, in-kind and financial; reinforces and capitalizes on the unique assets of the local community; and overall the nomination is excellent and should be proudly recognized as a top award winner at the Evening of Excellence.

Organizations and individuals from 14 Missouri communities were nominated and/or honored in 16 different award categories.  Lee’s Summit had semi-finalists in 3 other categories, including Kurt Pycior of Pycior + Co. for Best Adaptive Re-Use Project for the Hartley Block Redevelopment, Jerry’s Bait Shop for Business Excellence and Steve Tominia of Cameron’s Home Furnishings for Volunteer of the Year.  Lee’s Summit was further showcased at the event as staff from Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., participated in the evening’s program by coordinating a mini-Piccadilly auction for the guests.  Kurt Pycior also emceed that portion of the event.

Missouri Main Street Connection is the coordinating state program for Main Street communities across the state.  Lee’s Summit is one of only four Nationally-accredited Main Street programs in the state, while over 120 Missouri communities follow some aspect of the Main Street Four-Point™ Approach.

For more information about the Missouri Main Street Connection, please visit www.momainstreet.org.  For more information about Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., please visit www.downtownls.org.

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