DOWNTOWN
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National Trust for Historic Preservation. The local group,
which will be holder of the award through May, was a semifinalist
in 2010, beating out most of the 1,200 Main Street
programs across the country.
“The timing just seemed right for us to apply again,”
Tillman says. “What this was all about was that we followed
the National Trust’s steps to restore and revitalize
our downtown, and the community came through. There’s
been a lot of pride and effort from a lot of people who made
this happen.”
But the feeling of support is mutual. Ask any downtown
business owner about the benefits of Main Street and the first
sentence starts with Doris Tillman.
“Doris and Main Street have been a wonderful resource for
us,” says Sentiment co-owner Dale van der Lugt. “Doris and
all the volunteers have joined with us and partnered with us
in all our events. One time at an art show I walked up behind
Doris just as she was telling a group of people about us.”
Patricia Scott, starting her second year as owner of the
Whimsy boutique in a restored building on North Second
Street, says Tillman and Main Street “held my hand from the
beginning when I decided to open this store. She’s been our
biggest cheerleader and a good customer, as she is to everyone
downtown. Doris Tillman practices what she preaches,
and she made Main Street totally available to me when I was
working with the city on renovations.”
TIMELINE
>>
1882 — The Cobb Building is built as a trading post by
Benjamin Hogg.
1901 — City of Fort Pierce is created.
1905 — St. Lucie County is created.
1923 — During the land boom, the Sunrise Theatre opens.
1940s — The Navy Frogmen begin training on Fort Pierce
Beaches as Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) members.
1960 — A new courthouse on South Second Street replaces
one built in 1909.
1970s — The dark years for downtown Fort Pierce begin
as retailers move west and shoppers follow.
1983 — Sunrise Theatre closes.
1984 — Orange Blossom Mall opens on Okeechobee
Road. It is the county’s first and only indoor mall.
1988 — Main Street Fort Pierce is formed with Tom Kindred
as director.
1990s — With the help of mini-grants, building owners
start sprucing up their buildings’ facades, greatly improving
the appearance of downtown. New streetscapes with brick
pavers and attractive street lamps and signs are put in.
1992 — Doris Tillman begins at Main Street Fort Pierce.
2004 — Two hurricanes hit St. Lucie County head on and
do tremendous damage.
2005 — Another hurricane goes through the county.
2006 — Sunrise Theatre reopens in January. Plans are
announced for a $65 million federal courthouse slated for
the corner of U.S. 1 and Orange Ave.
2008 — Leo Henriquez opens the Renaissance on the
River, the first residential development since the 1920s.
2011 — The Winemillers buy the Renaissance. Main Street
Fort Pierce wins the national Great American Main Street
Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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