What constitutes a "vibrant downtown" as imagined by Crestview's planning department and their consultant?
Perhaps it means bars, nightclubs, restaurants, high-end boutiques, tattoo parlors and novelty stores. But do we want to fashion the downtown area after the Destin Commons, Universal City Walk or Downtown Disney?
Apparently, the city wants valuable downtown real estate for establishments other than the kinds of 9-to-5 businesses that comprise most of Main Street. These include law offices, title companies, medical offices, clothing stores and so forth.
Most of these businesses close at 5 p.m. and wouldn't be considered fun or vibrant, but they are valuable services needed by our community.
Would these businesses be expected to relocate if they don't meet the criteria for downtown? Are they, like churches, locked into their existing footprint should they desire to renovate or expand?
I am concerned about downtown. We drove down Main Street last week at 6 p.m. and it was deserted, other than a few cars at Hideaway Pizza.
Several businesses have closed on Main Street. I don't know whether it was due to lack of customers, high rent, under-capitalization, limited parking or other issues.
However, if I were opening a new business, I am not sure I would take the risk of being on Main Street. It doesn't appear that there is enough foot or vehicle traffic to warrant businesses being open after 5 p.m.
The way to revitalize an area is to offer lots of choices. How does a city entice new businesses? With sales and property tax breaks.
But are such incentives enough to bring several new businesses to the downtown corridor?
Perhaps for the time being, new businesses need to locate farther north on State Road 85 or at the south end of town in the empty area next to Lowe's.
There is a definite need for more restaurants and places to shop in Crestview.
There is also a great need to solve the traffic problem here, which hinders any revitalization plan.
I am sure there is a solution; we just need to keep working on it.
And we need to remember that the city of Crestview should not copy another city's business model.
Janice Lynn Crose lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CROSE: Downtown not lone option for Crestview's business expansion