The Story of HDR
Historically, Harrisonburg’s downtown thrived as the bustling center of our region, but struggled when people and businesses began moving to the suburbs in the mid- to late-1900s.
In response, our nonprofit, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR), was formed by city council to reverse the devastating impact many years of economic decline had on our historic district.
Since our inception in 2003, HDR has worked with community volunteers, local government, business and property owners, and community groups to revive our downtown. As an accredited Main Street America™ program, we utilized the Main Street Four-Point Approach™, a proven downtown revitalization strategy created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to make this magic happen.
We have been leading a public-private effort to find new economic uses for old buildings, establish a sense of community with festivals and events, initiate beautification projects, encourage historic preservation, help existing businesses thrive, and support new businesses opening. HDR is a critical part of the Harrisonburg economic development ecosystem, providing support for our business community and investing in our thriving historic commercial district, ensuring that our downtown is our region’s best billboard.
We don’t do this alone! HDR is a community-driven organization guided by volunteers and partners. Our volunteers are our advisors, champions, and workforce, and our partners help realize our vision for downtown by working with us both collaboratively and through their own projects. Our organization is also part of the powerful Virginia Main Street network of other organizations like ours located throughout the state who are supported by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Together, we keep the momentum going.
Today, downtown is the heart and soul of Harrisonburg. There is something to do every day of the week, including live music, trivia, dance classes, art openings, workshops, yoga, vendor markets, theater, comedy, BINGO, films, community bike rides and runs, history tours, and so much more.
Our walkable, bikeable community offers much to explore, and our quality of life is highly sought after. Downtown Harrisonburg is a livable, vibrant community where people are passionate about the Shenandoah Valley and creating a place that we love together. Downtown is where you can start your business, walk to work, meet your neighbors, raise your family, enjoy the mountains, get involved, and shop local.
While we are proud of what we have accomplished so far, there is more work to be done. We hope that you join us on our journey; the best is yet to come!
Downtown By the Numbers
HDR was created to reactivate the downtown historic district as the economic and social hub of Harrisonburg. When HDR started in 2003, people may have come here with one stop in mind. Now the entire downtown is their destination! Our downtown earned national recognition as a Great American Main Street Award winner from the National Main Street Center, naming HDR as a leader in revitalization. We are proud of our milestones but also know that the best is yet to come.
Our Milestones
“[h4] 2003
— HDR Established by City Council to Lead Downtown’s Revitalization”
“[h4] 2004
— Downtown listed on the National Register for Historic Places
— HDR receives designation as an accredited Main Street America program”
“[h4] 2005
— The city begins downtown streetscape improvements
— JMU’s first Block Party in the ‘Burg”
“[h4] 2006
— HDR facilitates support and resources for upper-story redevelopment for housing units”
“[h4] 2008
— Turner Pavilion built for farmers market and other events”
“[h4] 2009
— Matchbox built Urban Exchange - downtown’s largest infill mixed-use development with 300 apartments”
“[h4] 2011
— Rocktown Beer & Music Festival Launched - downtown’s first large-scale festival
— HDR participates in Virginia Main Street’s pilot program to bring two electric vehicle chargers into downtown in partnership with Harrisonburg Electric Commission
— The Daily News-Record names HDR “Best Use of Taxpayer Money” for the second year in a row in annual community voting competition”
“[h4] 2014
— Main Street America honors Harrisonburg with the national Great American Main Street Award for excellence in downtown revitalization
— Culinary district formed”
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[h4] 2016
— HDR logged cumulative 100,000 volunteer hours since 2003”
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[h4] 2017
— HDR launches Friendly City Fortune raffle fundraiser for project and program funding”
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[h4] 2018
— Bricks & Click Program Launch and Market Analysis Conducted”
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[h4] 2019-2020
— HDR led the successful advocacy campaign to save the historic Denton Building from demolition ”
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[h4] 2020
— Virginia Economic Developers Association recognized HDR’s Bricks and Clicks Small Business Assistance Program with a Community Economic Development Award
— Virginia Main Street recognized Lineage Goods with a Merit Award for Outstanding Business”
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[h4] 2021
— Downtown 2040 Master Plan Adopted
— First Best.Weekend.Ever. festival launched
— Virginia Main Street recognized HDR’s leadership and impact in supporting downtown and its businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic with a Merit Award in addition to Magpie and the Perch for Best Adaptive Reuse of the Big L Tire building
— HDR helped Launch B-Cubed (Brown and Black Owned Business Growth Program)
— Intern Kate Harwood is the first representative of the national Main Street network to participate in Main Street America’s Instagram Takeover”
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[h4] 2022
— Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series Begins”
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[h4] 2023
— Northend Gateway Sculpture Installation
— Launched First-Ever Sensory-Friendly Promgramming at Skeleton Festival”
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[h4] 2024
— Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) recognized the Downtown 2040 master plan with a Community Economic Development Award (CEDA)
— Virginia Main Street presented the Impactful Placemaking merit award for Explore More’s Downtown Ducklings project (partially funded by HDR’s Destination Downtown grant)
— Hburg Hounds Program Starts
— Traffic Cabinet Public Art Wraps Installed”
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[h4] 2025
— Hosted First-Ever Dog Mayor Election
— HDR facilitated a $1.3M Virginia Housing grant for downtown workforce housing”
We follow the Main Street America Four Point Approach, which includes Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization.
Learn more about their Approach, here.
