TAMAQUA - Even though street-level storefronts appear to be thriving, the spaces above them are often overlooked.
Tamaqua officials are trying to change that with a marketing campaign that starts with a video on downtown development in the borough that was publicized in the December issue of a national magazine.
"Looking Up" is the title of the video that was mentioned in The Chamber Executive Network, an advisory newsletter for chamber managers that is distributed nationally and in Canada. The video can be seen on the websites of the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce website and the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership.
In fact, the partnership funded the production of the video by Ed Redding of VideoWorks Productions to encourage development of the under-used second and third floors of buildings in the historical section of downtown Tamaqua.
Dick Hakes, the newsletter's editor and publisher, recently viewed the video and decided to include it in December's issue.
The video was part of a study that was completed on the availability of space and the possibilities for development within the borough's Main Street program area.
Linda Yulanavage, executive director of the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce, said she recently talked about the video with Hakes.
"This video and some others that are on the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership's website have helped people realize the kind of wonderful space that is available for development in these older downtown buildings," said Yulanavage. "Two world-class artists from New York City have purchased buildings in our Main Street area and created live/work spaces right here in downtown Tamaqua."
