Renaissance Initiative has now changed their name to Renaissance Danville. Renaissance Danville's goal remains the same - to create neighborhoods of choice. Their “MISSION” is to compliment the downtown area and eventually other City neighborhoods by encouraging private investment and owner occupied single-family dwellings.

The organization firmly believes that just as blight has a core and spreads; pride also has a center and grows. The heart of the City was crying out for salvation; Renaissance Danville and its volunteers stepped up to the plate.

Renaissance Danville is not just about rehab; it’s about restoring pride to the heart of the City, it’s about getting the entire community excited about the opportunities Danville has to offer.  It is a MOVEMENT! It began in the late 90’s under the leadership of several former City leaders. The initiative created a Not for profit organization, using a combination of public and private funding to buy, restore and sell new and improved homes. The plan would begin by focusing it’s efforts in the area bounded by Walnut Street, North Street, Gilbert Street and W Williams. The west downtown neighborhood was chosen as the first area the organization would focus on because as one former City leader said, “From an image standpoint, visitors come to the City through this neighborhood. By improving the neighborhood we improve the perception of the City”.

The ability to increase housing stock is one of the central elements, but not the only goal of the initiative. Many of the homes in the west downtown area are built with a quality of materials and workmanship not affordable to most homeowners today. “Once it is gone, it’s gone.”  The Initiative has converted multi-family homes back into single-family homes; they encourage property owners to do the same. The organization also encourages owners to restore dwellings built as multi family units back to their original layout. The area offers an opportunity for capitalizing on historic assets. Rather than focusing on demolition, the initiative focuses on saving the area’s unique structures. Renaissance is banking on a snowball effect with the emphasis moving toward more private investment. Some dilapidated homes that were beyond repair have been demolished offering investors the opportunity to build new homes, in styles that fit the era, or build duplexes suitable for use as professional office space, hair salons, art studios, antique shops and so forth. “It’s like the chicken and the egg – more residents will bring a need for more support businesses. More businesses will make the area even more attractive to additional residents. Downtown residents consist of people from all walks of life: teachers, Attorneys, Ministers, carpenters, small business owners, government workers, CEO’s, retired people and families just starting their course in life.

There are several reasons downtown living is on the rise: convenience, low stress factor, ease of walking downtown to buy a newspaper and cup of coffee, have breakfast, lunch & dinner, shop, go to the library, attend an outdoor concert, enjoy fresh produce from the farmer’s market, and much more. Danville’s downtown area also offers: a large grocery store, several banks, health and fitness clubs, a dry cleaner, video store and a variety of other establishments that enhance the quality of life for downtown residents.

The neighborhood has put faith in Renaissance Danville to continue its efforts to restore the grander that once was; the organization intends to complete its mission. If you or your organization would like to assist by volunteering on projects, conducting fund raisers or contributing time and/or money contact Renaissance Danville via e-mail or call the organization’s Executive Director, Ann Wells at (217) 269-4758.