The Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort is gaining momentum by the day.  It is fast becoming a movement that I trust will pull the heart strings of anyone who has experienced Oak Ridge for a significant period of time and wishes to see our historic districts become the great memory making places they once were.

As a native Oak Ridger I love hearing stories from others about growing up here and the older I get the more I hear, especially since our little church purchased the old Grove Theater in 2004.  There is a special spark that flashes when Oak Ridge natives or long timers connect.  It is one that opens a window to wonderful memories of living and growing up here, regardless of which neighborhood we lived in, which school we went to or which plant we worked in.  These are memories of a thriving community.  The question of the day is can our historic districts be renewed to become the safe, alive and thriving places they once were?   If so, how?

For our church, purchasing the theater was about more than making it into a church.  After all church is people, not buildings.  We needed a place to meet, but equally the case, this purchase was about an opportunity to preserve a well remembered community gem and joining with others to bring life back to where it had once been.  My faith tells me that is a good thing.  Quickly we learned that this is an attitude shared by many, including Grove Center and Jackson Square owners, merchants and service providers, so in 2008 we linked together to find ways we could begin to halt the decline in our districts and work together to turn things around.

Since combining efforts we have found an enthusiastic response from many corners of our community, especially around and in-between the two centers.  City, community and various other organization leaders have encouraged us every step of the way.  They have also steered us to the right people and the right principles to keep this movement alive.  Ultimately this has led to finding the right leadership for taking this to the next level, one that I trust will positively benefit all of Oak Ridge and the surrounding areas.

We celebrate our unique past, but now is the time to create a bright new future that will lend support to putting our city back at the top of the lists of best places to live, shop and experience community.   As people come here from all over the world to work, we trust that this effort will be one more encouragement, among many, for them to also make Oak Ridge their home.  As you consider involvement you will read and hear significant emphasis on the arts, culture, environment and the younger generation.  This is certainly not to the neglect of we who are older; rather it is rooted in what many of our seniors have given their lives to establish and don’t wish to see fade away.  The vision isn’t in stone, but it is a direction that seems to be taking shape very naturally.

In short, this effort is just a beginning with two of our oldest, largest historic shopping districts.  I am confident that it won’t end there and excited to see how it continues to unfold.  Will you join in support of the Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort and see what a difference we can all make.

Martin Fischer

Board President

Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort