Despite a sagging economy, NewTown Macon has met or surpassed the goals of its current five-year plan to encourage growth downtown.

That was the report NewTown officials gave nearly 200 community and business leaders at its annual meeting Wednesday at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

And even with the nation’s economic woes, downtown Macon has all the necessary ingredients to continue to grow as part of its next five-year plan, said keynote speaker Scott Page, principal partner of Interface Studio LLC.

Page, a Philadelphia-based urban planner who helped create the College Hill Corridor master plan a few years ago, said Macon is facing the same problems with its downtown that most cities in America face -- trying to grow during a bad economy.

But there are a number of ways in which organizations like NewTown can leverage what the city currently offers in order to help attract new residents, create jobs and revitalize downtown.

“Certainly, budget shortfalls and the recession have completely changed the face about how we talk about downtown,” Page told the audience. “It’s changed the face of what we can accomplish.”

Page noted that one of Macon’s greatest strengths is also one of its biggest downtown issues -- the number of vacant spaces in historically and architecturally significant buildings.

Unlike many other downtowns across the nation, Macon has managed to preserve many of its older downtown buildings, Page said. However, that means there are more empty buildings sitting downtown. Filling them with residents and businesses is all of Macon’s challenge, Page said.

Still, given Macon’s assets such as its architecture, proximity to the river and cultural draws, Page said the city is in a position to capitalize on those assets provided community leaders plan wisely.

“You have all the ingredients that create buzz for a place,” he said. “You have the opportunity to bring visitors and businesses to downtown.”

He noted the College Hill Alliance, Historic Macon’s revitalization of Beall’s Hill and the proposed expansion of Second Street as positive steps the city has taken to create buzz.

Page listed seven steps to create a plan that will have short-term and long-term gains for downtown, including:

Aim high: Never stop dreaming big or settling for less. Page listed cities such as Chattanooga, Tenn.; Asheville, N.C.; and Greenville, S.C., as cities similar in size to Macon that achieved ambitious redevelopment plans.

Build constituency: It’s important to involve as many people as possible in the planning process.

Refresh the discussion: People need to take new approaches to old problems.

Get the word out: Macon needs to develop its own “brand,” something with which outsiders can identify the city.

Know your market: Research and data are essential in planning during a down economy.

Connect: Macon needs to leverage what it currently has and connect parts of downtown together.

Hit the ground running: Macon needs to set short-term goals that will give residents small victories and keep them interested in the redevelopment process.

“It’s not just a 10-year time frame, but a 10-month time frame,” he said.

NewTown board member Tony Rojas noted that the organization has already met and surpassed a lot of its goals during its current five-year plan, which ends in 2012, and that board members are in the process of planning the next five-year plan.

NewTown’s goals in the current plan include netting 60 new businesses for downtown and leveraging $50 million in improvements or new construction; it’s already netted 61 businesses and leveraged $135 million.

In addition, NewTown has restored 34 downtown facades -- above its goal of 20 -- and created three tax allocation districts.

Rojas also told attendees that NewTown has raised $500,000 for Georgians for Passenger Rail, manages Terminal Station for the city, will take over the operation of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and plans to restore the old Capricorn Records studio into a working studio, lofts, a restaurant and a museum. Some other possible plans for the next five-year span include rehabilitating businesses on Second Street, renovating the Dannenberg Building at Third and Poplar streets, and building a downtown amphitheater.

To contact writer Phillip Ramati, call 744-4334.