What's a downtown without a MainStreet?

The banners are up, the storekeepers are ready and the streets are busy.

It's the start of another holiday season in downtown Libertyville.

It appears that all is well in the quaint and thriving area that is the envy of many communities. There is an old-time charm and a sense of tradition that can't be forced or manufactured.

Yet there is turmoil beneath the serenity. A group that rightfully shares the credit for the turnaround from ghost town to a virtually full-house shopping destination is fighting for its continued existence.

Nearly depleted of funds and whose only full-time employee is set to become a volunteer after Friday, MainStreet Libertyville is scrambling to stay afloat.

Driven by volunteer efforts since 1989, the not-for-profit group wants to continue its mission of keeping the downtown humming.

But has it done its job too well and is no longer needed? Would the storefronts empty and the public ignore the area if MainStreet dissolves?

The possibilities have fueled an emotional debate between those who regard the work of MainStreet as a worthy tradition equal to that of its numerous popular events and those who think it should step up, spread the word and get the community to write checks to keep it going, instead of relying on public money.

"I don't think the village realizes how much goes into these events, both in terms of planning and staffing with volunteers," says Stephanie Herbek, a lifelong resident.

Between writing the group's quarterly newsletter and other activities, she volunteers about 100 hours a year to the group. She says events like Trick-Or-Treat on MainStreet and others have become family traditions.

"I don't see the village being able to replicate that," she added.

MainStreet supporters say daily attention to detail, personal touches and other intangibles have helped create a sense of place for the entire community that can't be replaced.

The Libertyville organization is known statewide and has one of the most aggressive slate of promotions among the 67 MainStreet communities, according to Wendy Bell, program coordinator for Illinois MainStreet.

"Libertyville has been astonishingly successful in the things they have done," she said.

"Sometimes, it's hard to sustain a successful program because it's taken for granted. Downtown Libertyville looks great now but unless there's a focus … that could suffer."

Bell says it takes considerable work to keep things on an even keel. Statistics provided to the state organization show that since 2005, an average of 785 people volunteer each year for MainStreet Libertyville and have logged nearly 11,000 hours worth of service.

In Illinois, the value of that service, as tracked by the Independent Sector Organization, is more than $19 an hour or nearly $215,000, Bell said.

Libertyville's organization is accredited by the National Main Street Center/National Trust for Historic Preservation. According to that group, 2,050 organizations existed throughout the U.S. in 1980 compared to 1,421 that are still active.

That means that about a third folded for one reason or another. More than half of those simply didn't get off the ground. About 20 percent, essentially called it a day and disbanded.

"Do you still need a MainStreet program and will the downtown continue the way it was? That's very rare," says Lauren Adkins, assistant director for consulting services for the National Trust's Main Street Center.

Village leaders say the downtown is too successful and well known to just slip away.

"I don't agree the downtown will decline," said village Trustee Bob Peron, a former MainStreet board member. "Will every little event be picked up and hours spent? No."

Village leaders agree the downtown has become an asset that has boosted housing prices and added to the allure of the community. The historic area was noted as such by Money magazine, which this year named Libertyville among its 100 best places to live.

But leaders say the village has played a major role in that change as well.

Mayor Jeff Harger noted that the village has contributed close to $850,000 to MainStreet since its inception. It also has spent millions in streetscape and other improvements, maintenance, banners, manpower and equipment.

He said the village is "very supportive" of MainStreet and is committed to its success. Rumors that the village wants to eliminate the group are unfounded, he added.

"While we cannot provide some of the programs that benefit a few specific stores, we can and will guarantee the large community events will continue," he said. "Having said this, we do not want to do this. We want MainStreet to succeed and we want the community to buy into their mission."

Peron also expected that another downtown group would pick up some of the slack if MainStreet folds.

Peron noted that after one of the declines in village's MainStreet funding, the village picked up the responsibility of holiday banners and decorations. The village also paid for recently installed wrought iron fences around planters downtown.

"That's $30,000 we spent (with) no input from MainStreet. We weren't looking for any but it was an upgrade downtown and we did it."

Harger is more adamant.

"For anyone to suggest that the downtown will regress is irresponsible," he said.

He emphasized that the village runs many development programs and hired its first economic development director last year to preserve the stability of the entire community. It is the village's responsibility to ensure the viability of all businesses, be it downtown or in an industrial park, he added.

MainStreet funding had been at $50,000 for most of its existence but was cut in half a few years ago and now stands at $10,000. The village faces a $697,000 budget deficit for 2008-09 and is tightening everywhere.

"MainStreet has done a very good job. Nobody wants it to die," Peron said.

"But it's time for people who want MainStreet to step up to the plate."