The collaborative effort branded Reimagine Chatham reached a milestone this week for its initiative to develop a community-wide vision for Chatham and the adjacent area. The consultant firm, Hill Studio, submitted the first draft of the Growth and Renewal Strategic Plan for the town. The work, which began in April 2024, was funded by a grant from a community minded trust. It is being managed by a steering committee led by the Chatham Rotary Foundation and comprised of local civic organizations, with representatives from the town and local businesses. Since that beginning, the committee has sought broad public awareness and input. Awareness efforts culminated with a mass mailing within the study area. While the primary focus has been on the Town of Chatham, the economic impact area ranges from Tightsqueeze in the south to ODAC in the north, and beyond. The draft report utilizes public input gathered for surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews.
Currently, the draft is under review by members of the steering committee. The consultants will present the study results and recommendations at a public meeting on September 11, 2024, at 5:30 pm, at the Old Dominion Agriculture Center (ODAC). The final report is due near the end of September.
The final growth and renewal strategic plan will serve as a basis for local improvements during the coming years. It will contain specific recommendations for improving the local business environment, amenities, housing, and outdoor recreation. All recommendations will be based on an economic evaluation of the local economy so that goals set are attainable within the strategies presented.
With the report on track for completion, Reimagine Chatham is turning its attention to the next phase of the work — implementation. The steering committee structure will be reconfigured, using the same general structure, and the implementation group will begin systematic evaluation and implementation of study recommendations. Currently, members are reviewing opportunities for early-on initiatives identified in the draft report as items of broad interest in the community. These include a possible feasibility study for a town system of walking trails and an evaluation of an expansion of the current designated historic district. A broadened historic district designation will offer economic benefits for development of specific structures within the zone. The current Chatham Lofts, a project which converted the old elementary school into apartments, benefited from being in the current district.
For more information on the Reimagine Chatham initiative from the beginning until the present, go to ReimagineChatham.org.