Downtown revitalization: Time for action
Column by Lorie Smith
www.loriesmith.com
Two weeks ago, Waynesboro held a downtown planning session. The city engaged the Redevelopment and Housing Authority to assist in creating a Downtown Revitalization Plan. Over the coming months, this plan will be formally developed and submitted for approval to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Waynesboro could potentially receive up to $1 million in funds towards downtown revitalization.
I eagerly participated in this meeting. I’m pleased to report that there was “standing room only” in Council Chambers. There were approximately 70 people in attendance, including downtown business owners, new residents, concerned citizens, and a few folks from surrounding areas who care deeply about Waynesboro, just to name a few. Continue reading “Downtown revitalization: Time for action” »
Waynesboro citizens, leaders envision downtown’s future
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Plenty of enthusiasm, with a couple of doses of reality. That was the downtown visioning session held in a packed City Council chambers in Waynesboro Thursday night.
The packed chambers were a sign of the enthusiasm. Sixty-seven people took part in the two-hour-plus session, which had participants breaking up into small groups to discuss their ideas for the near-term and long-term future of Downtown Waynesboro and then sharing them with the larger group in a macro-level discussion. Continue reading “Waynesboro citizens, leaders envision downtown’s future” »
Focus | Moving downtown forward
WDDI discusses work plan for 2010
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
With AFP Audio
The downtown-revitalization effort in Waynesboro has been teetering for the past couple of years with the clear shift in focus of economic activity in Waynesboro to the West End on the economic side and questions about ongoing commitment from City Hall to downtown improvements on the political side.
The good news on the City Hall front from the past week regarding the newfound interest of City Council in finishing streetscape improvements on Main Street qualifies as positive momentum against that backdrop, even if the project hinges on approval of a federal-grant request and wouldn’t get going until the spring of 2011 at the earliest with that approval in hand. Continue reading “Focus | Moving downtown forward” »
