Published: October 15, 2008 06:40 am            

OUR VIEW - Oct. 15

Way to go, L.O.

Local civic leaders may have found just the right formula for refurbishing downtown Live Oak. It's called the Florida Main Street program. Here's how it works.

We supply the money - enough to pay for one full- or part-time program manager - along with the labor, in the form of volunteer citizen committees. In turn, the state provides all the expert technical assistance we can use. (As well as some grants, once we're up and running.)

The goal is to fill every storefront with restaurants and shops that will make downtown a destination in its own right, not just someplace you drive through on the way to Wal-Mart.

The Main Street program is administered by the state Bureau of Historic Preservation. It's been around since 1985, and has a pretty impressive track record. Deland, in particular, is a success story of some interest.

Florida Main Street is no quick fix. Randy Torrance, who's helping get the program off the ground here, says the process takes seven to ten years for most communities.

That just makes it more attractive, in our view. Something too good to be true never is. This project, on the other hand, is going to require some long-term heavy lifting. We think it will be well worth it.

Like to help? Call Torrance at the Suwannee County Historical Museum at 386-362-1776.

Go to www.flheritage.com/preservation/architecture/mainstreet for more on Florida Main Street.



NOTE: We spoke in this space last month of staging a follow-up to The Last Word, our quadrennial political rally. The event was to take the form of a town hall meeting, with the candidates fielding questions from citizens.

Due to logistical problems, the event has been canceled.

        

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