Oh Lordy the ADHDA is Turning 40!
Celebrating A Milestone
This year marks 40 years since the founding of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association. For 40 years we've been partnering with downtown businesses, building owners, the City of Astoria, fellow non-profits, and the community here to preserve, restore, and improve upon our historic downtown. Over that time, the downtown has undergone significant changes and grown into one of the premiere downtowns in Oregon. To celebrate this important milestone, the ADHDA has launched a donation campaign with one big ask: can we get 100 donors to each make a $40 contribution?
A Look Back
In the early 1980s, nine community members joined together with a single vision: to work together to revitalize downtown Astoria. They formed what was then known as the Astoria Downtown Development Association (ADDA). With aging buildings in disrepair, a high level of vacant properties, and no clear vision for how to turn things around, these founding members formed an organization that could act as a champion for the downtown.
The John Jacob Astor Building (formerly the Hotel Astoria) in the 1980s
By forming a local non-profit our founding Board of Directors launched the first clear unified effort to restore our downtown. Our initial purpose was to focus on 4 areas:
Promotions
Organization
Economic Restructuring
Design
You can still recognize our volunteer-led committees we have today. 40 years later, the work continues. While the names of these efforts have evolved, and grown to add quite a bit more work for ourselves, we carry their vision forward by still using the "Main Street 4-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization". Today's committees include:
Promotions
Organization
Business Development
Design
Arts & Culture
Astoria Sunday Market
In 1998, the organization re-branded itself to become the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association. By the early 2000s we had hired our first ever Executive Director. From there, the work continued to blossom. Securing grants to restore our historic buildings, creating a series of community-focused events, and forging partnerships in Astoria and beyond to highlight and celebrate our amazing downtown. in 2020, we took over managing the Astoria Sunday Market.
We've managed to accomplish a lot in the last 40 years. Allow us to toot our own horn a bit as we spend the next week highlighting the amazing work we've done in the following areas:
DAY 1: Community Partnerships
DAY 2: Downtown Beautification
DAY 3: Our Volunteers
DAY 4: Business Development
DAY 5: Our Events
DAY 6: Astoria Sunday Market
DAY 7: Historic Preservation
DAY 8: The Next 40 Years
If you want to show your support, and help us continue the work, consider making a donation of $40 to show us you're proud of 40 years of accomplishments made by the ADHDA with your help.
The Astor Building as it stands today in 2026.
Click here to add your name to the list of donors who support downtown Astoria.
Celebrating A Milestone
This year marks 40 years since the founding of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association. For 40 years we've been partnering with downtown businesses, building owners, the City of Astoria, fellow non-profits, and the community here to preserve, restore, and improve upon our historic downtown. Over that time, the downtown has undergone significant changes and grown into one of the premiere downtowns in Oregon. To celebrate this important milestone, the ADHDA has launched a donation campaign with one big ask: can we get 100 donors to each make a $40 contribution?
A Look Back
In the early 1980s, nine community members joined together with a single vision: to work together to revitalize downtown Astoria. They formed what was then known as the Astoria Downtown Development Association (ADDA). With aging buildings in disrepair, a high level of vacant properties, and no clear vision for how to turn things around, these founding members formed an organization that could act as a champion for the downtown.
The John Jacob Astor Building (formerly the Hotel Astoria) in the 1980s
By forming a local non-profit our founding Board of Directors launched the first clear unified effort to restore our downtown. Our initial purpose was to focus on 4 areas:
Promotions
Organization
Economic Restructuring
Design
You can still recognize our volunteer-led committees we have today. 40 years later, the work continues. While the names of these efforts have evolved, and grown to add quite a bit more work for ourselves, we carry their vision forward by still using the "Main Street 4-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization". Today's committees include:
Promotions
Organization
Business Development
Design
Arts & Culture
Astoria Sunday Market
In 1998, the organization re-branded itself to become the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association. By the early 2000s we had hired our first ever Executive Director. From there, the work continued to blossom. Securing grants to restore our historic buildings, creating a series of community-focused events, and forging partnerships in Astoria and beyond to highlight and celebrate our amazing downtown. in 2020, we took over managing the Astoria Sunday Market.
We've managed to accomplish a lot in the last 40 years. Allow us to toot our own horn a bit as we spend the next week highlighting the amazing work we've done in the following areas:
DAY 1: Community Partnerships
DAY 2: Downtown Beautification
DAY 3: Our Volunteers
DAY 4: Business Development
DAY 5: Our Events
DAY 6: Astoria Sunday Market
DAY 7: Historic Preservation
DAY 8: The Next 40 Years
If you want to show your support, and help us continue the work, consider making a donation of $40 to show us you're proud of 40 years of accomplishments made by the ADHDA with your help.
The Astor Building as it stands today in 2026.
Click here to add your name to the list of donors who support downtown Astoria.
Make a Donation
Empower The Work To Continue
ADHDA is a nonprofit funded by community supporters like you. Every contribution goes directly into the events, preservation projects, and programs that keep downtown thriving. If you want to see more of this work done, consider becoming a supporter through a donation.
