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Leesburg leaders respond to DIA recommendations
What will it take to revitalize Leesburg's historic downtown?A presentation given May 28 by Leesburg's Downtown Improvement Association to the Leesburg Town Council said improvements to the town's walkways would be a big step in the right direction.
The presentation was greeted by applause from a large crowd of downtown land owners, business owners and residents, who attended the Downtown Improvement Association's briefing in the town council chambers.
The DIA – a group of historic downtown property owners, residents and merchants – was recruited by the town to find ways to improve the economic vitality of Leesburg's historic downtown.
The DIA has worked with the Urban Land Institute Washington for months to create a strategy for just that, said DIA co-founder Peter Burnett, who will present the report.
Burnett said the Leesburg group found that increasing pedestrian friendliness in the historic district is the key to turning around the downtown's economy.
“[The presentation] shows great vision, and what I like about it is it shows specifics,” Councilman David Schmidt said.
Councilwoman Katie Hammler, who campaigned this spring on improving the downtown's economy, said, “The timing [for the recommended changes] is perfect. It is important that Leesburg take these actions today because when the market returns, we will rule the day.”
The council voted 5-0-2 – with council member Marty Martinez and Vice Mayor Susan Horne absent – to accept the report and for town staff to analyze the DIA's recommendations.
Leading with the findings of the Urban Land Institute Washington -- a nonprofit group that researches the best way to create and sustain thriving local economies – Burnett presented the council with a bleak picture of the current economic state of the downtown.
The Urban Land Institute Washington toured Leesburg's historic downtown and listed its positives and negatives.
“With a weak retail sector, lack of service and amenities, little diversity in housing type, a decline in pedestrian traffic and an uncertainty of the impact that the relocation of the County Government offices will have on the downtown, the Historic District may appear stable, but is actually in a fragile economic state,” the study stated.
Since March, the DIA has been interpreting the institute's findings to form a recommendation to present to town officials.
“I don't think there are any quick fixes,” Burnett said. “There's no free lunch. We've got to knuckle down and work hard at this.”
The DIA report focuses on improvements to the four-block core area of the downtown, which sits between Cornwall and Loudoun streets to the north and south, and Church and Wirt streets to the east and west.
Sidewalk beautification, adding street lighting, widening sidewalks and adding street furniture like benches and cafe-style seating are elements highlighted in the group's recommendation.
“We need to have the walk-ability and pedestrian friendliness that successful towns have,” said Burnett, also a longtime downtown property owner.
Increasing pedestrian friendliness would create a domino effect, bringing in more foot traffic that would increase sales downtown, which would draw in new and stronger businesses, which would help increase commercial tax revenues that would in turn alleviate tax pressures on Leesburg residents, Burnett said.
“Instead of having people say, 'Lets go to Lightfoot [restaurant on Market Street], it's in Leesburg,' we want them to say, 'Let's go to Leesburg. We'll figure out where we're going to eat once we get there because there are so many choices,'” he said.
Simplifying the town's land-use approval process for developers by creating a timeline for approval also was a DIA recommendation.
The town already has begun implementing some of the recommended changes. Town Manager John Wells has made adjustments to the land-use approval process, which developers have complained is daunting and may deter people from starting a business in Leesburg.
Burnett said he also will ask the town to call a traffic summit to address the “perception” that there is a parking shortage downtown.
DIA Executive Director Lisa Capraro said there is plenty of parking downtown, but signs leading to parking could be improved.
Burnett said all of the historic downtown should be walkable. To do this, he said, the town must connect its three commercial hot spots -- the intersection of Market and King streets, Market Station and the County Government Center, and the future location of the Waterford commercial development at 222 to 224 S. King St. and 215 Church St. S.E.
Improvements proposed by the DIA amount to about $5.25 million. Burnett said these expenses would be shared by the town, county and local developers, but the town could also apply for grants to lessen the financial burden. If everything goes as planned, the improvements could be completed by 2013 or earlier, according to the DIA's proposed timeline.
Burnett said the benefits the town would receive in tax revenues and lifestyle improvements for residents would more than recoup the money spent.
Mayor Kristen Umstattd, who has opposed change in the historic downtown, called the report and presentation comprehensive and helpful.
She said acceptance of the DIA/ULI report does not mean approval of everything in it, but that the town would examine the findings and work with the DIA to move forward with plans to improve the downtown.
Contact the reporter at hhobbs@timespapers.com
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