Facade changes sought

Main Street Coordinator Barbara Lucier is seeking ideas from downtown property owners and merchants on how to spend money available for exterior improvements.

The Sparta Town Council agreed by consensus in December to allocate $5,000 to $6,000 per year for façade improvements, to be available on a first-come, first-served basis as matching funds. Officials afterward asked the Sparta Revitalization Committee to develop a plan for the money's use. Lucier is employed by the SRC.

"The SRC and the town are now ready for action and want the input from Main Street merchants and property owners in order to make a positive move this spring," she said.

Lucier was canvassing property owners and merchants last week, posing the question, "If you were given up to $1,000 to $1,500 from the town, what improvements would you like to make to your business exterior that would help your business and appreciably increase the value of the business property?"

Suggestions she has heard so far include improvements to sidewalks, trash cans and benches. Some responses have also mentioned the need for "obvious identification" of businesses, "something to call attention when people drive by," she said.

With the input received, Lucier stated, "The SRC will develop these guidelines (for use of façade funds) which will be presented to the Town Council for their review in the very near future."

Sparta is a member of the state Main Street program. According to the Main Street coordinator's job description, the area delineated is within one block of U.S. 21 from Little River Bridge to Wee Care Drive.

Lucier said she welcomes comments and suggestions from county residents. She can be contacted at 372-6135 or at P.O. Box 1020, Sparta, NC 28675. She said the appearance survey is only one aspect of the current activities of the SRC. "I think it's vitally important for people to see that action is going on," she said.

One of the other projects is the court house sign. Installed last month, the sign was the SRC's idea and was approved and paid for by the county board of commissioners, said Dave Biggerstaff, head of the SRC's design subcommittee.

The sign cost $1,712 and was constructed by Elkin Sign Shop, Biggerstaff said. The letters are solid bronze.

The committee meets the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the downstairs conference room at BB&T. Anyone interested may attend.
 

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