The Town of Franklin is asking for the public’s ideas for improving the Main Street area.
The town has embarked on a “Main Street Transformation” project with the hopes of making some changes that will coincide with the state repaving the road in 2028.
"The people who live here, work here, own businesses here, raise families here, and spend time on Main Street every day are the ones who know what makes Franklin special and what we still need to work on,” said Mayor Stacy Guffey. “This is their chance to guide the changes to our downtown in the short term and long term. I hear locals all the time say they’re driving to places like Clayton, Sylva or Waynesville to eat, walk around, spend time with family, or just enjoy downtown for a few hours. Let’s make Franklin the kind of town that’s at the top of that list."
The town will host two days of workshops led by the lead firm, McAdams, and subcontractor, Toole Design. The sessions will be held Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29. All sessions will be held at Twenty-Eight Main Events, next to Renee’s Cake Shop on Main Street. ADA accessibility is available from the Stewart Street side.
Community members are invited to join the designers as they draw during the drop-in studios on Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“During the drop-in studios, the project team will be actively working on maps and sketch concepts for Main Street in real time,” said Kristy Carter, of McAdams, based in Asheville. “This includes sketching ideas directly on large maps (street layouts, sidewalks, crossings, parking) and testing design options for safety, access and downtown character. We'll also be exploring design options that support businesses, pedestrians and traffic together.”
She said they welcome the public to participate by sharing ideas, concerns and local knowledge, comment on maps, or speak with the project team one-on-one.
“This is a very informal, interactive environment – more like a working meeting than a traditional meeting,” Carter said.
Open House
The open house will be held Thursday, May 28 from 6-7 p.m.
Carter said there will be series of interactive stations where people can provide input by participating in the activities or talking with team members on different aspects of Main Street. They can also see the drawing and design work.
The stations will explore questions related to Main Street’s existing conditions and opportunities, a comparison to other downtowns, character and streetscape (trees, lighting, outdoor space) and identifying values and priorities.
“There is no formal presentation, so participants can drop in, move between stations, and engage at their own pace,” Carter said.
Concept pin-up
The ideas collected during the workshop will culminate with a concept pin-up from 3-4 p.m. on Friday, May 29.
“Team members will be available to explain ideas and answer questions,” Carter said. “This is not a formal presentation, but rather an interactive walk-through where people can react to and refine the concepts.”
Carter said public input is a core part of the design process as it helps identify real, day-to-day challenges such as parking, deliveries and crossings. It also helps them understand what makes Main Street unique and valued, highlight priorities and what trade-offs the community is willing to make.
“Input gathered during the workshop is used immediately to shape initial concepts, which then continue to evolve into coming stages of the planning process,” Carter said.
She outlined why community participation is important:
• Local knowledge leads to better solutions. Residents, business owners and visitors experience Main Street differently than the consultant team does.
• It builds a shared vision. The goal is a plan the community recognizes and supports.
• It helps balance competing needs. Safety, access, business activity and character all need to work together.
• It creates momentum for implementation. Projects are more successful when the community has been part of shaping them.
Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens encouraged people to attend. “We need your input,” she said at the May 4 Town Council meeting. “This is not a small project. It is, as the name implies, transformational. It will take some time. It will not be an overnight fix, but it will help us move into the future and do the things that everybody is asking us to do.”