Development Over Historic preservation
I am so glad that downtown Bentonville sees itself differently. A proactive downtown is essential to the “niche” that Bentonville is looking to create. Thanks Bob Haynes for moving Bentonville forward!!
Read more from the Morning News
BENTONVILLE — Main Street Bentonville changed its name recently to Downtown Bentonville Inc., in part because the group is no longer affiliated with Main Street Arkansas.
The National Trust For Historic Preservation, which works with Main Street Arkansas, requested in May 2006 the local organization cease using the name because “Main Street” is its registered trademark, said Mark Christ, a spokesman for the Historic Preservation organization.
“Since they are no longer a member, they needed to stop using the name,” Christ said.
Main Street Bentonville was a member of the state organization from 2002-05 and continued using the name throughout 2006.
“I agreed wholeheartedly that we would change the name … I have absolutely no animosity about that at all,” said Bob Haynes, executive director for Downtown Bentonville.
He said the Bentonville nonprofit emphasizes downtown economic development, while Main Street Arkansas focuses on historical preservation.
Bentonville resident Tom Rife shed light on other reasons for the disassociation. He said Main Street Arkansas disapproved of Wal-Mart helping fund Main Street Bentonville in its formative years, back in 2001, and held up the group’s membership application for a year.
Rife said Haynes was being diplomatic in answering questions about the name change.
“Bob won’t say that because he’s too giving and too kind,” Rife said.
Rife noted he left the Main Street Bentonville board after the group eventually joined Main Street Arkansas in 2002, in part because state program representatives “treated us like dirt. They treated us like the red-headed stepchild … They didn’t want Wal-Mart associated with Main Street.”
Rife said he thinks Main Street Arkansas erroneously blames retail giant Wal-Mart for the economic decline of downtowns throughout the state.
Downtown Bentonville is now a member of International Downtown Association and the National Trust For Historic Preservation, Haynes said.
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