Town nominates Davis as a "Great Street"

In the 1990s, travel writer Norman Crampton dubbed Culpeper “One of America’s Top 10 Small Towns,” and it became an honorary designation oft repeated.

Now, the town is updating and sharpening its alias for the 21^st Century as it seeks a “Great Streets” label for Davis Street.

An annual – albeit new program of the American Planning Association, beginning in 2007 – Great Streets recognize roads nationwide that possess a strong, unique identity while balancing the competing needs of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Broad Street in Philadelphia, Monument Avenue in Richmond and Washington Street in Hoboken, N.J. are among past winners.

The Culpeper Town Planning Department recently nominated Davis Street, submitting detailed answers to four questions about the road that was among the original streets laid out in the town charter in 1759.

The application highlights Davis Street’s strengths while recognizing its not-too-distant period of decline when trees grew through rooftops and crime was rampant around the Depot. In fact, the application says, it was the imminent threat of the demolition of the Depot that spurred the community to turn Davis Street around.

In 1987, the National Register of Historic Places acknowledged the Culpeper Historic District and the following year, Culpeper became a Virginia Main Street community. From there, Davis Street began its upward climb, becoming the vibrant avenue it is today.

“Davis Street is truly the heart of the town, both geographically and figuratively. It is the center of social interaction. People from all walks of life, residents and visitors, alike, gather throughout the year to enjoy an escape from a hectic, generic, big-box world into the one-of-a-kind specialty shops and restaurants,” the application says.

Throughout the year, Davis Street is a hub of activity, hosting a farmer’s market, summer concert series, car shows, food and wine festival and holiday festivities.

The application named Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. – the Main Street program – downtown businesses and the town of Culpeper as the champions of Davis Street.

“The partnership between the town of Culpeper, Culpeper Renaissance, concerned citizens, and the business owners who believed has brought Davis Street back from a nearly hopeless state of decay. What was once a strong, functional, working downtown survived the decay and blight to re-emerge as a vibrant, eclectic destination for residents and visitors alike.”

The winners of the 2011 Great Streets contest will be announced in October.

2010 Great Streets

1. Spring Street – Eureka Springs, Ark.

2. 5^th Avenue – San Diego, Calif.

3. Bank Street – Wallace, Idaho

4. Massachusetts Street - Lawrence, Kan.

5. Wydown Boulevard – Clayton, Miss.

6. Broadway Avenue – Red Lodge, Mo.

7. Washington Street – Hoboken, N.J.

8. Middle Street – New Bern, N.C.

9. Liberty Street – Franklin, Pa.

10. Washington Street - Middleburg, Va.

- As selected by the American Planning Association