About Us

 Introduction

The Bellevue Renaissance  was established in 2003, and is significantly impacting the Fairfield Avenue Historic District. The Committee is associated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center , Kentucky Heritage Council, and the Kentucky Renaissance on Main Program. The Main Street Four-Point Approach to Commercial Revitalization has been a successful tool for downtowns in more then a thousand towns and cities throughout the country.   
 

 Purpose

The purpose of the Bellevue Renaissance  is to promote and assist with the development and revitalization activities in the designated Bellevue renaissance area, which is located on Fairfield Avenue .  This would include targeting vacant and dilapidated structures for redevelopment, building and improving streetscape, targeting retail businesses / retail service recruitment, and the promotion of the downtown area.  This is to be done through the National Main Street Center’s four-point approach: design, organization, promotion, and economic restructuring. The four points described below are the keys to the success of the Main Street approach:  

1)   Organization means getting everyone working toward the same goal.  The tough work of building consensus and cooperation among the groups that have an important stake in the district can be eased by using the common-sense formula of a volunteer-driven program, and an organizational structure of boards and committees. 

2)    Promotion means selling the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects.  By marketing the district’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses, and visitors, an effective promotion strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events, and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers.

3)    Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape.  Capitalizing on its best assets- such as historic buildings and traditional downtown layout- is just part of the story.  An inviting atmosphere created through window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping conveys a visual message about what Main Street is and what it has to offer.

4)    Economic Restructuring means finding a new purpose for Main Street ’s enterprises.  By helping existing downtown businesses expand and recruiting new ones to respond to today’s market, Main Street Programs help convert unused space into productive property and sharpen the competitiveness of business enterprises. 

Bellevue Renaissance Mission is to enrich lives by providing a unique experience in the historic Fairfield Avenue business district.

 Vision Statement

The designated Bellevue Renaissance area will be a resurgent, beautiful, vivacious, and opportunistic community where individuals and families work, reside, and find entertainment.

 Membership

Any individual or business is welcome to become a member of the Bellevue Renaissance.  One does not need to be a member to attend meetings and participate in events and activities sponsored by Renaissance  Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm at the Callahan Community Center, located behind the City Building at 616 Poplar Street, Bellevue, KY.  Please call (859) 431-8866 for more information. 

 Bellevue Renaissance Committee Board Members

Laura Popham -- Fusion Gallery & Custom Framing -- Chair

Jim Knight -- Mrs. Teapots Tea Room -- Vice Chair

Jessica Miller -- Resident -- Secretary 

Jody Robinson -- City of Bellevue -- Treasurer 
Barb Wiedeman -- Cozy Cottage

Crystal Thompson -- Splendid Things

Joe Miller -- Adaptique -- Vice Chair  

Joyce Benge -- Resident

Mark Kerley -- Lucky Rabbit Studio