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Leesburg biz owners: Take pride in the way you look
The 2010 fiscal year is upon us, and that's good news for Leesburg's downtown business community because improvements are coming to the areas around them.
However, a recent proposal to town council to help upgrade business facades may not be the best move for town taxpayers.
For the next five years, the town's Capital Improvements Program will pour nearly $4 million into improving town-owned infrastructure in Leesburg's historic district, which should make the area more appealing to visitors and bring more of them to town.
These upgrades were recommended by the Downtown Improvement Association and approved by Leesburg Town Council in April as part of its budget.
While these improvements should benefit the town's economic development, we're not so sure that now is the right time for the town council to be considering whether it should give downtown businesses grants to improve their facades.
The Leesburg Economic Development Commission proposed a facade grant improvement program to council at its June 22 work session. Through the program, commercial business owners in the town's historic district could apply for town grants to improve their exterior look with things like new paint, restoration and repairs.
We're not going to deny that there are buildings downtown that need sprucing up, but we think it's the responsibility of the building and business owners.
These improvements need to be a two-way street with the town and owners. The town has committed to bringing in a top-tier architect to improve areas like sidewalks and lighting throughout the town. Isn't maintaining your building a good way to say thanks?
Achieving crowds of consumers in downtown Leesburg isn't going to happen overnight. It's going to be a gradual process that takes commitments from both the town and businesses and building owners who are there.
It took a long time to get the town council to do something, but it finally has with the CIP funding; so now it's time for the business and building owners to do their part.
Most homeowners take a sense of pride in how the exterior of their houses are presented to the public. Business and building owners in Leesburg need to do the same.
It's the only way for this process of improving downtown Leesburg to go forward.
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