Mason’s Main Street revival.
The Mason Mile is a one-mile stretch of downtown Mason, from Reading Road to Main Street. This project realizes our shared vision for a revitalized downtown - where local businesses can thrive and our community can gather together to dine, shop, and play.
The new and improved Mason Mile aims to deliver:
A variety of new businesses
Improved safety and walkability
A more cohesive downtown experience
Let's get there together!
Sign up as an official Mile Maker to stay informed about the
project and help spread the word to your friends and neighbors.
2025 Make the Mile Events

Mason Mile Annual Celebration
Date: Thursday, May 15
Time & Location: TBD
Make the Mile Neighborhood Meetups
Thursday, February 27
Thursday, August 21
Thursday, November 20
Times/locations Coming Soon!
Make the Mile Strategic
Report Progress
Check out the community vision that was developed in 2024!
This is a true community-driven project, with cooperation from the City of Mason, MADECDC, MADE Chamber, small business owners, and residents like you. With your help, the Mile will become a vibrant, lively space that embodies Mason’s most important values - community, accessibility, and city pride.
PROJECT RATIONALE
Timing is right for this project because stakeholder interests are aligned. Property owners want a stronger real estate market, business owners see an opportunity for increased business with a vibrant downtown, city government wants a flourishing downtown, and MADECDC is in a position to coordinate the project. Previous downtown projects have fallen short of expectations because of economic factors, lack of continual direction and leadership, and lack of a unified goal. These areas will all be prioritized in our ten plus year planning horizon.
PROJECT VISION
Through an innovative partnership between the private and public sectors and led by MADECDC, the Downtown Mason Mile will be refreshed with an assortment of fresh, healthy, sustainable offerings resulting in:
A vibrant, sustainable, pedestrian-oriented, mixed use, cultural, civic and social heart of the MADE Region.
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Clearly defined boundaries of a downtown area that promotes the Mason and regional brand
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Density sufficient to support downtown commerce
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Increased property values and diverse housing offerings to stimulate downtown migration
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Regional, local and specialty retail, dining and entertainment
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Culture & arts hub
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Long-term plan for maintenance and a coordinated infrastructure: utilities, transit, parking, streets, safety and cleanliness
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New jobs, employment volume and variety to attract business and talent
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Increased community connections, health and education
PROJECT APPROACH
MADECDC is uniquely suited to the crucial role of representing, coordinating and communicating the
non-partisan interests of the general public across organizational and governmental boundaries. MADECDC’s primary strategy is community development and desires a region where residents, business owners, private and public property owners and institutions of every kind prosper.
MADECDC will:
MADECDC’s approach involves placemaking and partnership, maintaining respect for the region’s heritage and history while continuing to move forward. This project is seeking long-term change for the region with visible changes coming in the next five years. Since public participation and support is crucial, MADECDC will act as an interface for stakeholders and the general public.
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Maintain a public webpage to show progress and engage the community;
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Track opinions, proposals and progress and share with all parties;
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Lead the planning, organizing and communication of programs and projects that support our priorities and fit with our current focus;
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Help the community identify, plan and coordinate goals, tasks, roles and the resources necessary to achieve them.
PROJECT FOCUS AREAS
To achieve a vibrant, sustainable, pedestrian-oriented, mixed use, cultural, civic and social heart of the MADE Region, MADECDC will focus on the following:
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Historic building rehab/preservation
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Parking plan & structures
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Multi-unit residential
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Multi-story, mixed use retail/office
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Local dining/entertainment
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Community connections, healthy living programs and events
PROJECT GOALS
Built from the foundational goals established by the MADE Chamber Downtown Committee in 2018, we have evolved these goals to guide the tasks necessary to continue on momentum.
1. Collaboration: Foster a spirit of support to achieve maximum impact
2. Governing: Advance cross-organizational policies that foster support public and private investment
3. Branding: Implement a brand that supports and promotes business growth
4. Experiences: Partner on select impactful events that draw people to community gathering spaces
5. Wellness & Resiliency: Promote resilience, healthy living by educating residents
6. (Re)Development: Enhance downtown appearance, bolster lagging real estate market, create jobs, increase residency, promote commerce
COMMUNITY FACILITATION & ENGAGEMENT
Parallel to the technical analyses is a community facilitation process to gather input from community members and stakeholders on the specific concepts for development of the Mason Mile and on branding, identity and place making for the area. While the community has worked tirelessly for many years to help develop its vision for the Mason Mile, this effort takes that vision one step further with a basis in economic potential.
COMPLETE
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Awareness Campaign to ensure that the community is fully aware of the planning process underway, including this web page detailing progress.
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Topical focus groups to draw community input on specific issues and opportunities.
ONGOING
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Presentations of technical findings from the market, planning, and other technical analyses for community feedback.
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Direct stakeholder engagement, such as through the Activators, to assist with awareness, data collection and other inputs to the planning effort.