The chair of the Uptowne Olds committee is not worried about several empty storefronts in the core, noting that several strategies are being undertaken to fill vacancies that now exist.
"The prognosis is that we're looking pretty good for 2013,î said Leon Durand, noting that several vacant spaces are currently undergoing renovations, with new businesses looking to move in shortly.
Durand said that while it's normal for businesses to come and go, he's confident that with new businesses moving in and improvements to infrastructure in the core either underway or completed, the uptown will still be a good place to do business.
"All these processes take time. As much as we'd like to see it happen two years ago, you know it's going to take longer than that just because of all the processes that have to get into place first,î he said.
Individual businesses are also improving the look of their storefronts and that has a domino effect, which helps improve the look of the core.
"If you do a good job, it just brings the values up of everything, and everybody wants to be in that area,î he said.
Durand also said that as the town rolls out its uptown redevelopment plan, that will also help drive businesses to, and keep them in, the core.
"The prognosis is that we're looking pretty good for 2013."Leon Durand, chair, Uptowne Olds committee
