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August 6, 2026 Approving a Social District
A combination of temporary programs, public meetings, and resident and business owner surveys paved the way to establishing permanent social districts in June. The most effective tool, says Beth Gilmore, executive director of the Downtown Waynesville Commission, was temporary districts. Waynesville had allowed temporary social districts for special events such as the Ice Block Party, an ice sculpture event that takes place in January. "We’ve not had any problems result from the social district, and overall, you see people just strolling around with drinks, stopping to admire the activities and ice sculptures, and going in and out of businesses." The next order of business is for the town council to approve sign designs for the social district. Color-coded signs will indicate which businesses are opting in or out of the program. More on social districts and other placemaking tools appears regularly in Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter. Click below to learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange and other resources for revitalizing downtowns and commercial corridors. 
8-1/2" x 11", softcover, 197 pages, CD-ROM, $47.00.
Recommended ReadingThe Budget-Building Book for NonprofitsComprehensive and easy to use, The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits provides everything nonprofit directors and managers need to prepare, approve, and implement their budgets. The book offers practical tools and guidance which address the importance of budgets and budgeting, discusses basic types of nonprofit budgets, and outlines budget implementation, tracking, and reporting. This second edition includes a CD with the CMS Nonprofit Budget Builder Software. This Windows application is designed specifically to help you implement concepts in the book. The CD also includes electronic versions of all of the worksheets and exhibits to guide you through the process of building a solid budget. The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits is just one of the many books on Downtown Management available from the Downtown Development Center. |
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In many cities, public drinking areas have been approved quickly and with little debate. In Waynesville, NC, the effort took years. Many residents expressed concerns about public drunkenness, crime, and an erosion of Waynesville’s image as a family-friendly destination.