Good news! One private property owner downtown is said to be cleaning up the public face of a building that's looked rather
neglected.
In all fairness, this property owner has reportedly rehabilitated the upper floor, and is awaiting a tenant for a "build to suit" finish to the first floor. This same property owner has substantial holdings, especially in the downtown area, and without that investment and effort many of these fine old buildings would be in a very sad state, indeed.
The overall quality of this work -- and as a measure of commitment to our community and to quality -- can be seen in a recent construction project along First Street at the intersection with Franklin. An addition is being built to the Papa John's Pizza store, and it looks rather tasteful, too. The owner is also sprucing up another of his properties on Town Square.
Now if we could just get the town to finish the downtown
road project, planned in 1998 & 1999, with false starts in 2001 & 2003, and begun in earnest in 2006 -- they might be ready for guests on May 17th. Or June 14th.