Downtown director outlines partnerships, maintenance and event priorities for Bowling Green

Hallie Williams, executive director of Downtown Bowling Green, told the Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission that her office’s primary work is maintaining and promoting the city’s downtown through a combination of special-improvement-district funding, volunteer support and event partnerships.

“Our job is to make sure that downtown stays beautiful,” Williams said, describing maintenance tasks that range from morning cleanups after events to watering hanging baskets and managing holiday decorations. She said funding comes from property assessments within the district and is used to pay daily maintenance staff and seasonal programs.

Williams described the office’s role in supporting events such as Black Swamp, Rally BG and Firefly Nights and in encouraging downtown businesses to capture more visits from residents and students. “We want them to visit longer,” Williams said; “we want them to make downtown their own.” She said the office acts as a convener and promoter, connecting business owners to resources for facade work and other improvements.

Williams named volunteer and board member Tom Strigo for stepping in this fall to water downtown plantings after a summer student staffer left, and credited a partnership with the City of Bowling Green for helping fund staffing and equipment such as a watering truck. She also noted a recent collaboration with Bowling Green State University for homecoming flags and other ways to involve students and alumni in downtown activity.

On redevelopment updates, Williams said Brock Murray (the transcript also records the name as Brock Curry in one turn) is expected to operate the Claysell Theatre as a concert venue, with some shows possible in October and fuller operations expected by spring. She said the property owner, identified in the transcript as Amar Muffla, has indicated he supports the new tenant and intends to prioritize marquee and façade repairs.

Williams said she is open to working with the Historic Preservation Commission on programming such as a building-of-the-month feature and on promoting historically significant downtown sites; she suggested the commission and Downtown Bowling Green could amplify each other’s messaging through social media and shared events.

The presentation closed with members noting several upcoming downtown anniversaries and the possibility of events and permanent commemorations next year; Williams encouraged commissioners to share ideas for partnerships and recognition.

The commission agreed to pursue additional discussion of Certificates of Appropriateness procedures and to revisit strategic and partnership items at a future meeting.