'Main Street like a ghost town!' - Charlene R. Mercer
Mercer was speaking on Sunday June 12, 2016 at the opening ceremony for Aesthetic Designs and Marketing, a business located on Main Street and owned by Carol M. Smith.
The opening took place at the Sir Olva Georges Plaza in Road Town.
During her speech, Mercer encouraged the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural history on Main Street as it is considered to be one of the outstanding values to the territory.
Mercer is a part of the 'Preservation of Main Street Initiative' aimed at sustaining the economy of the businesses on Main Street to ensure that those businesses are thriving.
“Now you walk on Main Street and it is like a ghost town...it is run down. It is not properly preserved,” said Mercer.
She noted that the initiative has a convention which they are encouraging Government entities and businesses alike to sign signalling their intention of coming on board with the preservation of Main Street's natural and cultural heritage.
Natural & cultural heritage irreplaceable
Mercer noted that the new business of artist and designer Carol M. Smith has as one of its mandates the restoration of Main Street to its former glory where shopping and business are concerned.
“From the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations – our natural and cultural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration,” she said.
According to Mercer, the idea is to encourage and establish management plans and also set up reporting systems on the state of the conservation of Main Street sites; help safeguard Main Street properties by providing technical and legal assistance, advice and professional training; provide emergency assistance for Main Street sites in immediate danger; support Main Street merchants with public awareness building activities for VI heritage conservation; encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage; and encourage international cooperation in the conservation of Main Street's cultural and natural heritage.
It was just on Wednesday June 8, 2016 that talk show host and social commentator Donald E. de Castro complained that the Government seemed to have abandoned Main Street and that vines were growing on the electrical wires and on buildings as attention was being focused on Tortola Pier Park.
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29 Responses to “'Main Street like a ghost town!' - Charlene R. Mercer”
get students involved in both painting, repairing and
researching history of buildings on main street.
help owners renovate.
Shut down main street and make it a pedestrian way.
Have public events once a month- farmers markets on the plaza, live music, children's chorus etc.
Students acting out or telling about stories of houses-- a series called "If these walls could talk".
Be stricter about tearing down older buildings for tall modern ugly inappropriate buildings which
change the character of Main St. which is BVI living history and heritage.
create a lottery and early subsidies where new entrepreneurs can go public with new ideas, supporting new businesses.
The pier park is that bright shiny thing that will soon fade because it is only active when a ship comes in.
Why can't Heritage Day start at the pier park and include events on Main Street? Where is the imagination and marketing skills to keep areas alive? where is the city manager?
Survey services that are needed by everyone. NOt everyone will be going to Pier Park to shop for clothes. they need everyday services too. And I still think historic preservation is important. There is also such a thing as eco-tourism. Not everyone wants to go shopping. (especially at the beach!).
Sad--Sad---Sad...secure your votes.
It would be great,in my opinion,if cars ,except for those giving essential services,werenot permitted to use Main Street and if some stores did a lil cosmetics service to the their facade, that too would be nice and if sidewalks were upgraded or if the street could be a pedestrian walk only.