The role of a Main Street manager covers a wide variety of disciplines.  It is this variety that makes this position both challenging and satisfying.  Eustis Main Street is a 501(c) 3 Charitable Organization whose purpose is to assist in the revitalization of our downtown and lakefront. We are like a PR firm, Downtown Planning firm, and Economic Development agency all in one.  We promote downtown Eustis as a place to live, work, play, dine, shop, and invest. 

We are “The Alliance for Downtown Eustis” working closely with the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business and Professional Association, The Lake Community Foundation, and of course the City itself to insure that this community builds on its successes and continues to grow in a way we all can be very proud of.  We promote The Bay Street Players, The Lake Eustis Museum of Art, and The Lake Eustis Preservation Society and Historical Museum at every opportunity, realizing their importance to our community’s quality of life.  All of these entities have a place on our Board of Directors as liaisons.

As Eustis celebrates its 125^th anniversary, it’s important to remember that our highest purpose is historic preservation.  Our logo depicts the Alice McClelland Memorial Band Shell, first built in 1926 and later preserved.  Opposite the band shell in Ferran Park is the new Heron statue which was dedicated in September 2007.  This statue was the vision of Eustis Main Street’s Public Art and Music (PAM) committee and is an example of what can be accomplished through partnership.  The City provided most of the funding. Yet, it would not have been possible without PAM’s creative vision.    Now our most photographed landmark, this display of art has established Eustis as a city with a great future.   

Our City Commission, along with our new City Manager, are moving forward on projects that Main Street has been urging for many years.  The Community Redevelopment Agency plan is being updated.  The Downtown Traffic and Pedestrian Study is under way.  Last year, the City held visioning meetings to get input on what type of community you would like to have in the future. A planning firm has been hired to bring all this information and more together to create a downtown Master Plan.  These actions are good for all of us.

Many of you are disappointed in the lack of progress in developing the Lake Community Foundation’s downtown properties.  As your Main Street organization, we too are very interested in the successful completion of this project.  There is some good news to come out of this delay.  The City is moving forward with a master plan for downtown and the Foundation has decided to sell at least some of its properties.  Current market conditions may cause some delay in building but progress is being made. There are some exciting times coming to downtown Eustis.  

Meanwhile, Eustis remains as a great hometown and it is important that each one of us support the existing downtown businesses.  After all, where do you get your sense of community?  I hope it is in the heart of Eustis, your historic downtown.  So, whenever you can . . . live, shop, dine, play, and invest in your downtown!  Our city has a good history and a great future. As individuals, we each contribute to Eustis’ success.   To learn how you can better support Eustis Main Street or downtown Eustis, please call or write the Main Street office.