Mayor Jim Ireton is pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new pilot program to stimulate revitalization of Downtown properties. Mayor Ireton has formed a Downtown Task Force which includes: Allan Hope, Urban Salisbury; Brad Bellaccico, Chamber of Commerce; Bill Holland, Building, Permits, and Inspections; Tom Stevenson, Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance; Debbie Campbell, City Council Vice President; a representative from the Greater Salisbury Committee; and Mayor Ireton.
The prime objective of this pilot program is work with selected property owners to help them make their properties more marketable and more attractive to prospective tenants or purchasers.
To start the process, the Mayor’s Office will contact the owners of these Downtown properties:
• Alfirst Bank Building, 201 W. Main St.
• 113 W. Main St.
• Hess Building, 205 W. Main St.
• The Powell Building, 218-220 W. Main St.
• White & Leonard Building, 117 &119 W. Main St.
The process will begin with a meeting with each property owner to learn how the City can make the best use of its resources to bring the property back as a home of one or more viable businesses. It is hoped that by working together, the City and the property owners can use their talents and skills, plus established incentive programs to infuse new life into vacant spaces.
Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brad Bellacicco said, “The Salisbury downtown is a gem that needs some polishing. This effort to target a couple of properties is a good step forward in polishing our historic commercial core.”
Currently, the City of Salisbury offers the following incentives to Downtown properties owners:
- Enterprise Zone Tax Credits;
- Revolving Loan Funds;
- Arts & Entertainment District tax credits;
Urban Salisbury can support rehabilitation of Downtown properties through:
- Façade Grants;
- Access to the Neighborhood Business Works program;
- Low cost/no cost Architectural Design assistance;
- Marketing and Promotional support;
- Business Advisory services.
This is the first time the City has taken the lead by offering to partner with Downtown property owners. The Mayor expects to add other skills to the Task Force as time passes. The pilot program may also identify new tools to revitalize Downtown. If the pilot program is successful, it could be expanded to provide support and assistance to all Downtown properties.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
11 comments:
someone should look into how the Rouse Brothers revitalized Canton in Balt. starting with the development of the American Can Co. into a retail and an entertainment venue their revitalization insight is extensive and they even have been consulted by Cuba to develop crumbling Havana it is all very possible here
people long for something more than Wal-Mart and strip mall eateries and it has been hemmed and hawed over so long now it is due time some real action takes place
it could really be a good thing if done sensibly and frankly I think we all deserve at least one district that is imbued with fond memories that we do something good with and cherish
otherwise the whole town might as well be Glen Burnie if anything is going to cost us something than at least be it something that reminds us we were once civilized and a community beyond gated communities and McMansions and exploited rental slums and empty cardboard condos on that turd jammed river
Looks like Ireton is pimping the public again at tax payers expense to get his name out there. He is lining his ducks up to make a run for Norman Conway's 38D seat in the General Assembly.
You will not suceed until you clean up the crime around Salisbury. Bullshit talks.
Start with parking meter removal. Look at Easton, Princess Anne, and others who have done the same. Makes for shops and shoppers.
What a novel idea...... we've only been talking about this for almost 10 years and finally someone decides to make traction during a recession/depression.
they don't call it slower lower for nothing.
Its not the lack of parking meters in Easton,its because its safe to park and patronize the shops and resturants. Salisbury has so much potential but its got a bad reputation.Clean up the crime otherwise your putting lipstick on a pig.When people feel safe they will come meters or not. However free parking is nice.
I live at 113 and it's brand new soo yeah?
I wonder if parking meters had some small part to play in the demise of Escape Restaurant. A group of seven friends and I went there for lunch and had to go out several times to feed the meters. They said they wouldn't return--and didn't. I did write an e-mail to Escape suggesting they petition for the removal of meters, but I never received a response.
Here they go again -- more public money down the drain to try to bail out bozos who won't pay the price themselves.
The Rouse Brothers revitalized the Inner Harbor by first buying all the ghetto and slum area's cheap, that alone forced some criminals out of that area. (No they didn't build more low income housing Jimmy boy)
However, Salisbury isn't Baltimore and in this economy people just aren't going to be jumping to open a business in an already depressed downtown plaza.
More lip service from the Ireton campettes, like he's really trying to do something. The buzzards are already circling over his head.
The problem with removing the meters is that people will park there all day and not park in a lot so they can walk into their business. Then the person visiting downtown has no place to park. Most people won't walk the few extra steps from the 2 hr free lot or the garage? America is lazy and cheap.
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