PNC bank is leaving St. Leonard in April.
Currently, nobody knows (outside PNC) the reason why, but the reason may be the very reason we don't have a thriving commercial core in the town. There are not enough good reasons to drive out of the traffic circle to spend money in the town right now. As a result, our storefronts are dominated by liquor stores, a tavern and a tattoo parlor. Right now, and no ill-regard or disrespect for these businesses or their owners, this town seems to be capable of supporting only these types of businesses. And the Town has been stuck at that crossroad for the past 20 years, and things are beginning to change only very very slowly.
To change this and we must pick a direction of change, we need to create a Town Center that is capable of attracting other businesses. We have to start with making the Town more visible from Rt. 2/4 so people know the town is here. Then, in the next 10 years we need to have adequate public sewer infrastructure ready to serve at least 5-10 new restaurants, over 100,000 sqft of new retail, 25,000 sqft of office space, and another 200 new homes in the town center. Development happens in cycles, and St. Leonard could be next right right after Lusby. Some think Huntingtowm might be next to ramp up development before St. Leonard.
The eventual ramping up of development in St. Leonard would change St. Leonard and, in my opinion, make it a fun place to visit because there would be more people living in the town and more for people to do in the town. If that were true now, we would have PNC bank located outside of a local convenience store, which I'm sure is not real good for PNC's corporate image, and a few more banks too!
How would you like St. Leonard Town Center to look in ten years?
Tim Grover
President, St. Leonard Vision Group
Currently, nobody knows (outside PNC) the reason why, but the reason may be the very reason we don't have a thriving commercial core in the town. There are not enough good reasons to drive out of the traffic circle to spend money in the town right now. As a result, our storefronts are dominated by liquor stores, a tavern and a tattoo parlor. Right now, and no ill-regard or disrespect for these businesses or their owners, this town seems to be capable of supporting only these types of businesses. And the Town has been stuck at that crossroad for the past 20 years, and things are beginning to change only very very slowly.
To change this and we must pick a direction of change, we need to create a Town Center that is capable of attracting other businesses. We have to start with making the Town more visible from Rt. 2/4 so people know the town is here. Then, in the next 10 years we need to have adequate public sewer infrastructure ready to serve at least 5-10 new restaurants, over 100,000 sqft of new retail, 25,000 sqft of office space, and another 200 new homes in the town center. Development happens in cycles, and St. Leonard could be next right right after Lusby. Some think Huntingtowm might be next to ramp up development before St. Leonard.
The eventual ramping up of development in St. Leonard would change St. Leonard and, in my opinion, make it a fun place to visit because there would be more people living in the town and more for people to do in the town. If that were true now, we would have PNC bank located outside of a local convenience store, which I'm sure is not real good for PNC's corporate image, and a few more banks too!
How would you like St. Leonard Town Center to look in ten years?
Tim Grover
President, St. Leonard Vision Group
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