Episode 25 - Inside Richmond: The City’s Pulse | Why the Wayne County Land Trust Matters for Richmond’s Future

Want to see Main Street buzzing after dark again? Host Lindsay Darnell sits down with Acacia St. John of Forward Wayne County and Rebecca Gilliam of the Wayne County Foundation to talk about how the new Wayne County Land Trust is working to keep historic buildings in local hands, open the door for mixed use housing, and create a downtown that truly serves residents and small businesses.

The conversation dives into the real challenges Richmond has faced, including absentee ownership and long vacant storefronts, and why a community land trust offers a practical path forward. You will hear how early philanthropic support helped secure key properties, how each building will remain on the tax rolls, and how tools like historic tax credits and private investment will help sustain the vision long term. With most acquisitions complete, the focus now shifts to planning, design, and due diligence, with phased construction expected over the next few years alongside projects like Six at Main and ongoing downtown activation efforts.

This is about building a downtown people can live in, walk through, and enjoy every day. From upper floor apartments to locally owned shops and safer, more inviting streets, the goal is to create spaces shaped by the community. The episode also explores governance through the Foundation, safeguards for transparency, and a strong commitment to local contractors and suppliers. Most importantly, there is an open invitation for residents to share what they want to see fill these spaces, from cafés and bookstores to studios, gathering spots, and thoughtful design touches that make downtown feel alive.

If you care about the future of Richmond, now is the time to lean in.
 To learn more, visit waynecountyfoundation.org and forwardwaynecounty.org.

Transcript

Meet The Guests And Mission

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Welcome back to another episode of Inside Richmond, the city's pulse. I'm Lindsay Darnell, your host, and today I have Acasia St. John, director of Forward Wayne County, and Rebecca Gilliam, Executive Director for Wayne County Foundation. Guys, thank you for joining me. Glad to be here.

unknown 0:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

So I wanted to get you on here. Can you first let's start off? Can you tell me a little bit about the Forward Wayne County and Wayne County Foundation? What do you guys do?

SPEAKER_00 0:33

Wonderful.

Foundation And Forward Wayne County Roles

SPEAKER_00 0:34

The well, I think we do awesome stuff and I love the work we do. So the Wayne County Foundation serves entire the entire county, and we make um the connection between donors who want to invest in our community through charity, and we connect those with nonprofits and organizations that need support to deliver wonderful things to the community from quality of place initiatives to supporting social services and really everything in between. And we have a direct connect with Ford Wayne County because Ford Wayne County is a part of the Wayne County Foundation.

SPEAKER_02 1:15

Correct. So the Ford Wayne County serves as the community development arm of the Wayne County Foundation. So in that role, we are kind of the strategic liaison with government initiatives, regional initiatives, um local groups that come together to try to make a larger impact. We work within communities, we work within neighborhoods, we work within all of our partners just across the county. Whatever it needs to be, and in our role, that is what we do forward Wayne County. So we we are part of the Wayne County Foundation. So we're the community development arm of the Wayne County Foundation.

What The Land Trust Is

SPEAKER_01 1:48

Okay. Um, so I wanted to get you guys on here to talk about uh the Wayne County Land Trust. There's been a lot of buzz. You guys recently came out with a press release. Um, so my first question is for anyone hearing about this for the first time, what is the Wayne County Land Trust?

SPEAKER_00 2:07

So the Land Trust, like Ford Wayne County, is another initiative of the Wayne County Foundation. It was specifically formed to be a partner and a long-term organization that helps to support all the amazing work that is happening in our center cities and downtowns across Wayne County. In the short term, um, it has a more specific focus on Richmond because of all the really great things happening with the new development, this are new developments that are coming into town and the great work of RR and the EDC and the city. There's so much happening. The land trust was formed to help sort of long-term glue all that together.

SPEAKER_01 2:55

Okay.

The Problem Local Ownership Solves

SPEAKER_01 2:56

Um, so what problem or need is the land trust meant to address in Wayne County? So I am going to be learning with the public of what is the land trust.

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Sure. So our center cities across Dwayne County have wonderful buildings. We have lovely character, we have owners who have devoted a lifetime to maintaining them. And also some of them are business owners on the first floor. But over time, these buildings either the current owners don't want to maintain that. They're they're ready to retire, they're ready to move on. Um, sometimes the owner wasn't local. They're from another state, they're out of town, they might never have even visited Wayne County. So the land trust gives an opportunity for building owners to sell their property to be in local control. We retain local control. These properties will be managed. We are also able to renovate these spaces and return them to the vibrancy that they once were years ago, or maintain the current vibrancy because some of these buildings are in great shape and they were just ready for new ownership.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

And I know a lot of the out-of-state owners, they just kind of just let them sit. They weren't doing anything with them, so they were vacant. Uh, they could have been vandalized and no one would have known about

Investing In Ourselves First

SPEAKER_01 4:32

it, um, or just start deteriorating. So it is great to get that back into local ownership so we can rehabilitate these buildings, get more uh retail space out of them, or even living space.

SPEAKER_00 4:46

Absolutely. So it's really an opportunity to invest in ourselves. We can look to the outside world, we can look, excuse me, we can look to investors from someplace else, but at some point we have to Wayne County has to invest in itself, Richmond has to invest in itself, and the Wayne County Land Trust is one of those initiatives that is trying to invest locally, invest in the development of our great community.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

And I think that's very important for the community to know as well is that if we're not investing in ourselves, who's going to do it for us, right?

SPEAKER_02 5:29

Correct. And I think it also makes a good case, right? So you're willing to invest in yourself. So then when you look for outside sources and you look for outside vendors or partners to come alongside you, they can see that you're doing some of the groundwork first, right? So you're not just asking outside or external sources to help you do all these great things. They're showing that you have skin in the game. So that's kind of what we're doing in the short term.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

Right. And that's very exciting for us. Um, when did the land trust officially start and what prompted the timing now?

Launch Timing And Quiet Phase

SPEAKER_00 6:01

So the land trust officially, in your articles of incorporation, was in May of 2025. And like all projects, it just takes time. We we were trying to get it formed, up and running, figure out how to um acquire property. And some of that is just a quiet proposition. Uh, lots of building owners, they're private, they do not want their business shared. And so we honored that and we were very quiet as we talked to folks who had an interest in transferring their properties. I say transferring, actually selling their properties to the trust. So that's why we needed to get through that period of time where we were working with these building owners before we really started talking about it really publicly, because we were honoring the privacy of those independent building owners.

Governance And Expert Partners

SPEAKER_01 7:10

Who helped create it and what organizations or partners are involved?

SPEAKER_00 7:15

So it is an initiative of the Wayne County Foundation. So the board of the Wayne County Foundation is the leaders' leadership of the land trust. Um, we certainly have um brought along experts in the field of um finance and building construction and development. We have a lot of advisors that are working with us to ensure that this project is solid and we're making good decisions. Plus, we've worked with external um consultants that this is their business, this is their expertise. We're working with a firm um out of Indianapolis called Pago. They've helped to guide us in how this can work and how the model of local investment and reinvestment in downtown spaces can work. I mean, this has been done in some other small communities, and we wanted to use that same model and ensure that it would work here.

SPEAKER_02 8:21

So we recognize that you know the one size fits all model does not work. Right. So our consultants, our advisors, um our board of directors all understand rural communities, right? And the needs that we have in rural communities, which are much different than a large municipality. So that's why it was really important for us to focus on that subset of individuals and consultants to really help us focus the area of work and at the same time really guide the process. And so we've been really pleased. All of the all outside of Pago, everyone else is local. So they understand Wayne County, right? So when we're talking about a downtown Richmond or we're talking about the depot district, you know, they're not like, well, tell me about it. Well, they already know. So that that was really important for us to focus on.

SPEAKER_01 9:08

Um, so who is leading it day

Why Now: Momentum Across Richmond

SPEAKER_01 9:11

to day and how is it governed? I know you're saying this is an initiative for the Wayne County Foundation.

SPEAKER_00 9:16

So ultimately it's governed by the board of the Wayne County Foundation. Um, Akasi and I get the day-to-day responsibilities. This is um, you know, it's that other duties as assigned, but in the best possible way. Um, I wholehearted believe in this project. I think that we are at the right time, the right place. I think the foundation is uniquely positioned because we have such a great rapport with all of the other groups that are doing this wonderful work from city government to county government, EDC, all of these partners have been pulling this weight for so many years. We get to be a part of it too. And I we were very pleased to be able to say, yes, we'll join. We want to be a part of the solution for Wayne County. And so the day-to-day then falls on us plus our teams. Um, we have a great team at the foundation, and then I have a wonderful board of directors that um oversees all the work of the foundation for Wayne County and the land trust.

SPEAKER_01 10:26

And I would agree that this is a great time to start with Revitalize Richmond and Erlum College and the Lily Endowment funding that we are going to be pouring into our downtown uh depot district has been doing a lot of work over the many years. They have a lot of events down there, and so it's time for our Main Street downtown to be included, uh, to kind of maybe partner with the depot district, have those events and just, you know, collaborate together so we can make it a big, fun, family-filled event that they can visit downtown depot district at the same time, maybe stop at Jack Elstro Plaza, check the library out. Um, you know, the library is always a great place to go and visit. And so we just really want to get it kind of, I won't, I don't want to say booming, but when I was a child, my grandma used to bring me down here. We would go to Beaches, we would go to Joy and Bakery, and we would just visit all of the shops right here along Main Street. And you don't really see that. It's starting to pick up now. Um, I would say, yes, the weather kind of dampered that, but in the summertime, you would be surprised how many people you see walking along Main Street, going to the little restaurants here or stopping in a store or the salon.

Walkable, Mixed‑Use Vision For Downtown

SPEAKER_02 11:48

And I think that's our vision, right? So we want to see that come back to our downtown. We want to see that come back to the depot and just that ability to have a really walkable community. You know, they say thriving communities are walkable, walkable communities. So if you think about if you were in the depot or if you were in the downtown, or you were at the library, you're at the city building, within 15 minutes, if you walked any direction, you're in the gorge, you're in the depot, you're in the downtown, you can be at the library, you can be at um the Richmond Art Museum, you can be at Richmond Civic Theater, you can be at Eight to the Bar, you could be all these locations. And so I think we're starting to see that and starting to build that. In five to 10 years, downtown's gonna look different, right? And we hope it's filled with all this mixed use of housing and commercial spaces and you know, in in businesses that will complement our other current businesses in both the Deep Hill and the Main Street area.

SPEAKER_01 12:43

I can tell you there is, especially in the nicer weather, there is many days that I will walk down and get a coffee, or I might walk and get lunch. Um, or if I have a meeting in the depot district and it's nice, instead of getting in my car and driving three minutes, I will walk. I have walked to Roscoe's before with my backpack for a meeting, and it's nice to get out and enjoy that fresh air. So I agree. We we really do need a walkable community, and it's not horrible. Um, you know, in today's society, a lot of people don't get out and walk a lot. But if you think about it, when you're going to Walmart or Meyer, you are parking further out and you're walking up. So it's no difference than to parking, you know, down on Fifth Street and then walking up Main Street, checking out all of the little stores or the restaurants that are here, the coffee shops. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:43

Absolutely. Lots of there are a lot of great businesses that we have. And we now also know that, you know, the for the building owners that didn't choose to sell or want to sell, they believe in Main Street. And they believe in the depot. And they have big plans. So as all this development is happening, all this revitalization is happening, they're coming along, right? And they say, We believe in this, we know that it's gonna support our businesses, it's gonna bring more, it's gonna bring more people that that live here, that want to come down here, it's gonna bring visitors. So they fully and wholeheartedly believe that the mission and all the all the work that is being done in tandem is really gonna produce some really great things for Wayne County.

SPEAKER_01 14:24

And it really is. We just have to give it time. One of my favorite phrases, I always say it on this podcast: Rome was not built in a day. It is going to take time. So just give all of the organizations that are putting in the hard work to get this done, give them some time to get it done. We have the Gorge activation that's starting. You know, um, they've

Funding Model And Tax Commitment

SPEAKER_01 14:48

completed out at Test Road at the launching point for kayaking, and it is beautiful. Um, so you know, I know they're trying to get more funding and with the food and beverage tax, it's gonna really help catapult the rest of that project into getting completed. Um, so it is gonna take some time, but you know, it's a great time to live in Richmond, and we are really gonna see major changes in our downtown depot district, the gorge activation. We're really going to have that lifestyle that you can just kind of walk down Main Street, walk to the depot district, visit those, and really enjoy the community.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

We agree. That's that's the long-term goal. And I'm hopeful long-term means within the next five to seven years. I think we're gonna see a really big change.

SPEAKER_01 15:38

Um, how is the land trust funded at the beginning and how will it be sustained long term?

SPEAKER_00 15:45

So privately. So it has been privately funded. Um, our community has amazing individuals, and they're the foundation worked with some donors early on that saw this vision, they saw this opportunity, and they were willing to make um some funds available that could be used for the initiative. So it's private um philanthropic dollars that have been used to this at this point. Long term, it's like any other development project. There will be um funding sought from developers, investors. Um, there's some tax credits that will certainly, these are all historic buildings, so we will seek historic tax credits to offset some of the

How A Land Trust Differs

SPEAKER_00 16:34

um funding sources there. And long term, they're going to be thriving um buildings. They're going to have second floor residential, third floor residential, commercial, mixed use on the first floors. Those will all be producing um income that will be able to sustain these properties long term. So we it'll hopefully it'll it becomes very self-sustaining in the near, I think, near term, because I th we know our community wants these spaces. We know there are individuals that want to live, work, and play in our downtowns. We know there's opportunities for incredible businesses that are just waiting for a storefront to be available for them to utilize. So this really is a typical redevelopment initiative where it will become self-sustaining long term.

SPEAKER_02 17:29

In addition to that, all of all of our buildings that are part of the Wayne County Land Trust are on the tax rolls, right? Even as a nonprofit entity, we chose intentionally to keep them on the tax rolls so that they continue to support the city funds through the property tax, et cetera. So that was very important and very intentional so that we would not hinder any future funding for the city of Richmond. Um, we wanted to continue to be part of that process

Focus On Mixed‑Use Historic Buildings

SPEAKER_02 17:56

and to make sure that the city still received those revenue dollars.

SPEAKER_01 17:59

I think that's really a great point that you made. Um, I did not know that. So, you know, that's amazing that you guys are still wanting to help fund the city, uh, the municipal government and all of our operations that we do. Well, correctly. We're partners.

SPEAKER_02 18:13

Yeah, we're partners and we understand we understand the impact of property tax. And with the recent legislation that has cut property taxes, it it was equally important for us to continue to maintain that for the city of Richmond.

SPEAKER_01 18:26

Yeah, we appreciate it, and I know, yes. Um, I think that is really great to know and let the community know that as well. Um, what makes a land trust different from a land bank, redevelopment commission, or private developer?

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Well, the short the short answer is that they all serve very different functions. The land trust is not just locally owned, but it will continue that long-term revenue sources for us to be able to reinvest back into the community. Right. So redevelopment dollars come from a different funding source, um, land bank comes from a different funding source. Um the what was the other one? The private developer, privately developed dollars. So our intent is to reinvest back into the community. That will take some time, right? So you have to kind of recoup some of the dollars you put in, but the long term is that this will we can use the dollars for reinvestment back into buildings and back into community. That's the sh that's the easiest probably.

SPEAKER_00 19:37

That I think that's a good way to put it. We chose the trust option because that aligns with the mission and the function of a foundation. We are a very long-term organization, and a trust can serve that same purpose. It can go on for as long as you need it to. It can also dissolve. So it was a really good tool to use to hold and acquire, acquire and hold property.

SPEAKER_01 20:05

Okay. And then what types of properties will the land trust focus on first? Will they be homes, apartments, commercial buildings, vacant lots?

SPEAKER_00 20:16

We this is also very specific. We are focusing on like the downtown buildings that and they have to have, they have to be mixed use. So um every property that we um purchased is tip, they've had they have some sort of a retail commercial space on the first floor. And then we also they have to have

How Properties Were Chosen

SPEAKER_00 20:40

a second and or third floor that offers an opportunity for either some small office space and also residential. So that was our intention. And we're really we're not working in in the neighborhood space. So no single family homes. Um, this is all that mixed use with commercial and residential.

unknown 21:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

So mainly the historic buildings that we have along Main Street or even in the depot district, um, which is very important that we do not lose those. Um, you know, Richmond has so much history. I know a lot of people really know to us, know us as uh the birthplace of recorded jazz, but we have way more history than that. And it's amazing finding out something every day. Uh talking to Sue King at the library, I learned something every time I talk to her about Richmond. And so I would really, really, you know, encourage the community to just kind of look at the history. We have so much here, and it's really important to keep those historic buildings.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

Every building has a story, just like every building owner has a story. So that's what's really neat. And if it's part of the character of Richmond, it's part of our history and our heritage, and as much of that that we can. Preserve, then we keep an eye on that history. And I think that's really cool. That's a good point.

SPEAKER_01 22:07

Um, so how will you decide which properties to acquire? And I we already know which areas you're gonna focus on, but really how do you decide which properties you're going to acquire?

SPEAKER_00 22:20

So we talked to every building owner along Main Street Richmond and in the depot district that would talk to us. Nobody was left out. Every single building owner was approached. And from those initial conversations, we started to learn who wanted to, who was ready to retire, who had a vision for how they were going to redo their properties. And then we developed relationships and partnerships. And it truthfully, we have actually acquired most of the properties that we will be acquiring. So since May, we've been working on this, having these conversations, making these purchases. And um those decisions were made in partnership with the building owners and the trust based on the retail, the residential mix that was available.

Timeline: Design First, Then Shovels

SPEAKER_01 23:15

Okay. And what is the timeline? What should the public expect to see in the next, you know, three, six, or twelve months with these properties?

SPEAKER_02 23:24

Well, I think that's a that's kind of a loaded question. So I will say they're probably not going to see anything within the next 12 months. Right. So we we've we've finalized acquisition. There's some one-offs here and there that we're still having some conversation with, but we've actually finished acquisition. So the next phase is kind of the design phase. So we have some requests for qualifications out for developers, et cetera, that are specific to rural communities. Again, right. So that was very important in working with historic buildings, et cetera. And so that process will probably take anywhere from 18 to 24 months, right? So they have to get in, they have to look at the buildings, we have to do some environmental studies, we have to do some structural testing, we have to do all those things. So nothing probably will happen minimum for two years.

SPEAKER_00 24:12

Okay. Well, visual. So visual. Right. So like the shovel in the ground, but all along the way, we will be working behind the scenes. Plus, there's every design firm we're interviewing has a component, and we've talked to them about this is opportunity for community input. So we will be out in the community at different milestones over the next probably 12 to 18 months where we have opportunity to get feedback. What is the community looking for? And so this is a large project. It probably

Transparency And Where To Follow

SPEAKER_00 24:48

will have phases, but yes, um, next 12 to 24 months, um, we're going to be getting all of those pieces in place so that the redevelopment can happen.

SPEAKER_01 24:59

And how will the transparency work? Where can the public find updates, meeting information, or progress reports? Uh, where can the community find more information about the Wayne County Land Trust?

SPEAKER_02 25:14

So they can follow Ford Wayne County social media, their social media sites. It's the Wayne County Land Trust. In addition to that, you can go to the Ford Wayne County website, and we actually have a tab dedicated solely to the Wayne County Land Trust. As it gets larger, we potentially may develop its own website, but for now, all the information that's available is right on that landing page on the tab for Wayne County Land Trust on the Ford Wayne County website.

SPEAKER_01 25:38

And I would really encourage the community to go and check it out. I checked it out when I first saw your press release come out on social media. Um, I kind of knew when this was in the works, not in depth, just you know, conversations here and there. Um, so you know, it's very exciting to see for our city to have this. Um, one thing I really want to ask though is what are the biggest misconceptions that you've already heard?

Clearing Misconceptions And Privacy

SPEAKER_01 26:06

And what would you like to clear up today?

SPEAKER_00 26:09

Have you let you start? Um We are not a secret organization. And I say that funny. It just we um part of the work of the Wayne County Foundation is trust and privacy. And so that that is the same for the land trust. We really honor the relationship we have with the building owners, ones we're currently working with, ones we've already purchased properties. And so there is no secrecy. It's just honoring the um those owners. This, these, they're private individuals, and it's their story to tell. So we leave a lot of space for individual owners and individuals to tell their own story. This is an initiative of the foundation. Our door is wide open. If anyone wants to have any conversation, I am happy to. Akasia is happy to. We want people a part of this. This the whole point of the trust is to local individuals, local groups working together to invest in our local community. We want people to come along. There's a role for everyone to play.

SPEAKER_02 27:23

Absolutely. And that and that privacy extends to our donor base. And so, again, that is their story to tell. Some have very specific um wishes to see this kind of work happen here in the downtown area. And so we honor that. And again, that's their story to tell. And if they want to tell it, they're we're not saying you can't, and they can, but we're just not going to do it for them.

SPEAKER_01 27:45

And I think that's very fair for the community to understand. They wouldn't want someone else telling their story. They would want their story told when they're ready, if they're ready.

unknown 27:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:56

Uh, so let's talk about what safeguards are in place to ensure accountability and prevent conflicts of interest.

Safeguards, Conflicts, And Local First

SPEAKER_01 28:04

I know you said you have a board that will be running this. There won't be any single person making or calling the shots, correct? Correct.

SPEAKER_02 28:13

And I think that's very important to understand as well. Is that it's overseen by the Wayne County Foundation. The land trust has its board of directors, it's standard operating procedures within those guidelines. So there's there's none of that. Our intent is always to work with local first. Um, so we're committed to that process. And um, unfortunately, there's not there's a few that work within the mix of development stages. Um, so that's one thing that we've kind of extended outside of Wayne County. But the full the intent is to always try to work with our local businesses first. And so that that's where we're the direction we're headed.

SPEAKER_01 28:48

And I think that was gonna be my next question is how will you work with local contractors, trades, and businesses? So that's good to know that you will first seek out local contractors.

SPEAKER_00 28:58

Yeah, this is where working and investing in ourselves, absolutely, we want our local community involved. We want them to be a part of this absolutely open door.

SPEAKER_02 29:12

And that's where our board of directors for the trust, as well as all of our advisors, because they are all from Wayne County, they can really extend the reach of

Phased Revitalization Across Projects

SPEAKER_02 29:20

all of our suppliers across Wayne County. So that means, you know, flooring, cabinets, blinds, all the things, development, construction, all the things we're gonna try to work locally first.

SPEAKER_01 29:32

And it's great that you guys are doing that to put the money back into the community before, and I understand that not every trade is in Richmond that you might have to seek out of Richmond. And I think it's important for the community to know is that we might not have every single every single trade that might be needed local.

SPEAKER_00 29:51

Correct. And we hope that with all the construction going on, I mean, wouldn't it be a wonderful scenario if we maxed out all the workloads of all of our local folks? And if that's the reason we have to go and bring some folks in from outside the community, that's good news. That means we are really helping all of our local businesses thrive because there's great work happening right here.

SPEAKER_01 30:17

And this process, knowing that it might be, you know, two years before we start visually seeing the a difference in these buildings, is it's going to be a stepping stone until we reach the top. You'll have revitalized Richmond, the five buildings that are getting done here on Main Street. You'll start seeing those uh and within 18 months getting completed or nearly completed. Uh, you'll see six main completed before then. And then, you know, next we'll work on the Wayne County Land Trust. And so, yes, it is a stepping stone, but in the end, we are going to reach the top.

SPEAKER_02 30:52

Absolutely. And you and it in that visualization that you just said, just think about no one entity could do it on their own. That's a lot of work. But piece by piece, we can take certain sections. And so little by little, that little becomes a lot. And so you're absolutely right. In two years, you're going to visually see six and main. In two, three years, you're going to see the revitalized Richmond products. And in five to seven, ten years, you'll see the Wayne County Land Trust. What a great, you know, revitalization effort on behalf of all those partners who are working in this space to make Richmond better.

SPEAKER_01 31:28

Um, do you guys have an example? I know it's not on my question. Um, do you guys have an example when you guys were learning about this process and starting to initiate it of another community that had completed this and the success story?

Models From Other Towns

SPEAKER_00 31:43

So we initially um visited a community in Ohio. Actually, it's a very similar downtown structure, Van Wert, Ohio. Their community foundation served in a similar way that we have chosen to, and they spearheaded an initiative to try and revitalize their downtown. Um, so we did spend some time with them. And what's really neat is across Indiana, there are small towns now that are doing similar work to us, and we're all trying to, we're we're forming our own little network of um communities that are trying to learn from each other and um figure out how to do the best work we can do within our communities with the resources that we have available in rural Indiana.

SPEAKER_01 32:29

And I, you know, I I'm go to the Main Street coalition meetings that you operate and hearing the stories for Hagerstown, Centerville, um, I believe is Dublin on there. No, no, no, no. Fountain City, Hagerstown, Cambridge City, Centerville, and Richmond. Cambridge City. Um, they're doing great things. Um, you know, just knowing that they are really starting to kind of turn their main street around, bring in more businesses. Uh Cambridge City has a new venue. And I I did see that you guys posted on um voting for a name for it. Um, so that's really gonna bring a lot of people back to Cambridge City. Um, you know, Centerville's doing big things, they have a whole lot of spaces now that are being used, and I see people frequenting frequenting them often. Um, I haven't been able to get there and check them out yet, but it is on my to-do list because I want to check out the new toy store. I want to check out the the new chicken salad um restaurant that they have there. They have Five Arch there, and I know that they get really busy. Uh my niece

Countywide Main Street Momentum

SPEAKER_01 33:44

works there, and so they they get really busy, especially on the weekends.

SPEAKER_02 33:48

Correct. And so all these small communities, well, all of our communities, those are the large five, those are the five largest incorporated communities that we have. They have individuals and organizations, the main street organizations that are really dedicated to those efforts. And then they have a volunteer base that want to support all those efforts as well. So you're absolutely right. So you're seeing a new group formed in Fountain City that really they are really focused on helping Fountain City with its history and at the same time do some really great things within their community. And they have some great examples and some of those others that have been doing it longer, but that all came from just thinking about private citizens, right? Who said we're gonna step into this role, we're gonna do this part of it. And so it all again, it all comes back to everyone working in together for the same goal of revitalizing your community, but also bringing people back home.

SPEAKER_01 34:39

And the main street, I know they're working on getting back up and running uh with Erlum and the revitalized Richmond. That's really gonna be a big part of them getting back up and running. Um, so you know, I know Richmond's gonna take a little bit more time. Richmond's bigger than those other smaller communities. So we do have a lot more ground to cover. Um, so it's it's just gonna take some time. And so I really just want to press that to the community that it is going to take some time. It's not gonna happen tomorrow, it's not gonna happen next week. But, you know, like we were talking, putting the pieces together or the stepping stones is you'll start seeing it step by step or piece by piece until it's all done. And then what a great place to spend your time on the weekends. So you're not traveling out of town an hour to do the same thing that we could do here.

SPEAKER_02 35:31

Yeah. I mean, that that's gonna be a great vision. Um we're gonna get there. Yeah, we're we're gonna get there. It's just better. And I think in in today's society, we often focus on like instant gratification, right? That's the on that's the downside of having a phone, right? A cell phone. Yes. You know, before it was those flip phones and you you couldn't get on the internet, you couldn't get on Facebook, you couldn't do any of those things, right? But now it's this instant gratification. I think that's what we're conditioned to do. But with revitalization work, it is a process. And so that you have to really lean

Patience Over Instant Results

SPEAKER_02 36:05

back on your patience and realize that there are a lot of people doing a lot of great work. And we want you to come along and be part of it, help tell that story, help volunteer when the opportunities arise, help provide input when those opportunities arise. And so that's that's your way to help. But instant, you know, you you cannot revitalize one building in less than a year. There's just not, it's not possible, whether it's from structural studies, environmental studies, getting the plans, doing the construction. There's just there's just no way to do that. And so time will be our friend here.

SPEAKER_01 36:40

And knowing that process, you know, we you need to have the structural studies to make sure that it's safe. Um, you know, rehabilitating anybody that has done any type of renovation work to their own home knows that it is a process. Um, I think that's why I avoid my house because I know it's a process, but uh, you know, it's still like it's standing. It's just uh, you know, looks that I'm trying to change. But, you know, it is a process. Um, another thing that I really want to focus on is that this is going to be bringing um housing. It might not be an individual single home, but it will help with our housing shortage that we currently have, not just in our city, but it is nationwide. There is a housing shortage. And so it's really important to really know that, you know, there's going to be more apartments available for people that are either moving in or moving out on their own, or maybe even returning college students trying to find somewhere to live while they're finding work back in their hometown. So it's really important to know that.

SPEAKER_00 37:43

Um, and our community wants and needs a mix. So single-family homes are wonderful, but there are some folks who want to live in apartment style or a downtown style living. So this just offers our community a wide variety, one more piece of that wide variety of housing options that thriving communities have.

SPEAKER_01 38:07

Right. And I will say that, you know, being a homeowner, you know, it's great

Housing Mix And Downtown Living

SPEAKER_01 38:12

to have that feeling. You have so much pride in it, but then you don't understand the cost of being a homeowner, your furnace going out, your water heater going out, or your garbage disposal going out, or something like that nature, and then the upkeep of your lawn. Um, so yeah, you're right. A lot of people don't want to do that. They want to have a simple maintenance-free lifestyle where all of that's covered by a landlord and they don't have to do yard work.

SPEAKER_00 38:41

Well, and we want a mix of housing and a mix of residence. So you want your college kids, you want the folks who are coming back to the community and working here. You want your young families and you want your retirees. And sometimes all of them have different needs, different housing wants and desires. So we our community should want to offer that in all forms because we want everyone to stay here.

SPEAKER_01 39:08

And that's really important too, is all of the youth that I work with, I always ask them tell me one thing that will bring you back after college to your hometown. And if you can't tell me one thing, tell me one thing that would bring you back that Richmond could possibly bring to Richmond to get you to move back and not go to a bigger city or a different state. Um, so it's really important too that we stress to our youth, you know, we are doing things down here and we want you to come back after you're finished with college, come back to your hometown, get a job, get a place to live, and and stay in Richmond. Richmond is a great city to live in. Um, so that's really important to you. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 39:54

You know, we've been through five planning processes in the last six years through Ready 1.0, Ready 2.0, the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, Gift 8 through Lily Endowment, and also Gift 9. And all of those, and even countywide strategic planning. And in all of those conversations, our youth, our young adults, they will tell you, can we do something about our downtowns? Is it can we do beautification? Can you fix the buildings? Can we get people back downtown? So it's not just older generations, et cetera. They want that. They want to see that, you know, their they said that would just liven up the community, right? And so actively working in that spaces and and actually getting their involvement and just hearing them say that, you know, that's the future that you're creating for that generation. So we actually have a few people that have moved back in the last couple of years and they're like, man, it's great to see what's happening. I can't wait to see what happens in five years. Yes. Or I'm telling, I'm telling my friends when you come back for Thanksgiving, you come back for Christmas,

Keeping Graduates And Newcomers

SPEAKER_02 41:00

let's let's take a driving tour. We're gonna go all over Wayne County, but we're gonna show you what's happening. That's exciting to hear.

SPEAKER_01 41:06

It really is. Um, and just knowing that we're gonna have that here. And once we have all of those commercial spaces that have been renovated and gone through, I think it'll help recruit more people to opening up businesses, maybe even starting something for the youth to come and do. I know a lot of people drive to Indianapolis or Dayton to do um arcades, but I don't think everybody knows that we have a couple of arcade places here. They might not be as big as Dave and Busters, but they're really fun. They're fun. And they're doing improvements inside of their establishments as well to expand. Um, so definitely want to check them out and and just know that we are bringing newer and better things to Richmond. So I want to maybe um end off with if you could leave listeners with one message about the land trust, what would it be?

SPEAKER_00 42:06

The land trust is an initiative designed to complement the incredible work that is underway in our downtown here in Richmond, as well as you mentioned, some of the other communities across Dwayne County. We are a private entity working with private individuals, with the building owners, also with the government entities, municipalities, and all the other organizations that are in this space doing that work. And um join us. Be a part of it, find a way that you can add your talents, your time, your treasure to this work. It's worth it. It's hard, but it's worth it.

SPEAKER_02 43:01

I would just add that when you have uh opportunities to provide input, when we go through these discovery phases and we we

More To Do Locally, Less Driving Away

SPEAKER_02 43:09

want these input sessions to come out and talk, come and be part of the process, you know, have your say, and at the same time really start vocalizing and supporting this work because it it is worth it. It's hard, it's hard, but it is worth it.

SPEAKER_01 43:25

And I would say that's very important to come out when you're having all of these input sessions is um if you don't show up, you guys don't know what they want. And so it's very important to if if they want their voices heard, they have to show up. You know, they can't just post privately on social media. Um, they need to kind of show up and give their input, give their opinion. What do you want to see? 100%. Yep. All right, guys. I just want to say thank you so much for coming on and joining me today. And talking about the Wayne County Land Trust. I learned a lot as well in this process.

Closing Thanks And Contact

SPEAKER_01 44:05

And I really hope the community did as well.

SPEAKER_02 44:07

Thank you for having us.

SPEAKER_01 44:08

This was great.

SPEAKER_02 44:09

Thank you. And again, if anyone has questions, feel free to call the foundation office. And we would be happy to meet with anybody.

SPEAKER_01 44:16

That's Inside Richmond, the city's pulse. Make sure to join us next time.