An effort is underway in Garner to revitalize the historic downtown.

"There's a lot of people that don't know where Main Street is," said Patricia Mason, who has a salon on Main Street. "That's a big problem."

The community started as a railroad stop on Main Street. Businesses opened next to the railroad. But in the 1950s, when Highway 70 was built, businesses and traffic went there. Main Street was forgotten by some, according to John Hodges, Executive Director of the Garner Revitalization Association.

"Garner has never really had a central core that has been maintained to give it its identity. People know there's a railroad track that runs through it. But people really don't think of this area as having a great identity of its own," he said.

Hodges is working to change that. He's drawing up a redevelopment plan that includes new restaurants, stores, housing, offices, and recreational facilities. The plan also calls for widening a road that connects Main Street to Highway 70.

"Improving this area will be a boost to all of Garner's economy," he said.

The plan does not have a price tag yet. But some residents, including Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams, are skeptical about it.

"People are going to have to be displaced. And property is going to have to be acquired. And it's going to be big bucks. It's going to be heavily expensive," Williams said.

Williams agrees that more attention should be paid to downtown. But with hundreds of people in Garner losing their jobs, he questions whether this is the time to do it.

The Garner Revitalization Association hopes to formally present a plan to the town council in early 2010.