yet with a modern feel. You can sense the growth happening all around the city.” Mayor Crabtree is also quick to highlight the area’s natural beauty.“We’ve got an abundance of natural resources,” he notes. Winchester is home to Tims Ford Lake, an expansive body of water that plays a central role in the town’s identity. Project Manager Yvonne Stewart jumps in to share the scale of this local treasure: “10,782 acres of lake and 246 miles of shoreline,” she states proudly. Yet,despite this feeling of escape,Winchester remains far from isolated. “We’re centrally located between Nashville, Chattanooga, and Huntsville,” says Mayor Crabtree. “You can come here and escape but still be plugged in.” This balance—between relaxation and accessibility—makes Winchester an attractive destination for tourists, businesses, and families looking to settle down. REVITALIZING THE HEART OF WINCHESTER The historic downtown of Winchester has been a focal point for the city’s leadership over the past two decades. Once a desolate area, it has transformed into a vibrant space where people can stroll, shop, and enjoy the charm of a small Southern town with a growing modern appeal.The revitalization efforts, however, didn’t happen overnight. Beth Rhoton, City Administrator, recalls a pivotal moment. “The city of Winchester was fortunate back in the early 2000s to receive a downtown courthouse revitalization grant,” she explains. This grant, awarded in 2005, became the foundation for years of focused development. “By 2007 or 2008, we formed the Winchester Downtown Program Corporation to oversee much of the construction and manage the funds. It’s been a 15-year process,” she says, describing the steady transformation that has reshaped the area. As part of this push for revitalization, making Winchester more pedestrian-friendly has been a key goal. “We’ve been fairly successful,” Rhoton says.“We are a Main Street community, and the city has prioritized facilitating walkability.” Winchester recently completed a comprehensive land-use study to further this effort and guide future growth.“We are in an 11-month process right now with a street and sidewalk program,” Rhoton shares. The project, aimed at expanding walkability beyond the immediate downtown area, is set to cover commercial corridors and residential zones. The revitalization hasn’t come without challenges. Mayor Crabtree reflects on the cultural shift required to change how people use the downtown area.“For 50 years, people were used to parking right in front 311 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 11 WINCHESTER, TN
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