Down but not out – Town regroups after failed redevelopment funding bid

Looking west and east on Front Royal’s East Main St. – there will be no state redevelopment money this year – BARELY. Photos/Roger Bianchini

“We’ll be back” – who said that, more or less?

No, not that BIG movie star “terminator”-west coast governor; we’re thinking a little closer to home and more recently – as in Front Royal Community Development Director Felicia Hart.  And while it may not be an exact quote, it WAS the gist of her message in the wake of the September 19 release of the 15 communities that will receive nearly $9-million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the State in the coming year.  Awarding the grants is the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Hart says not to lose heart over Front Royal’s exclusion from that list.  She noted that a majority of the projects awarded (11) were either more urgent water and sewer utility upgrades and housing projects, or Phase 2 of projects having previously received CDBG funding to begin those projects.

Only four communities – Norton, Pulaski, Warsaw and Amherst County – received funding for business district or old town revitalization projects similar to Front Royal’s proposal.  Hart points out those are southwestern Virginia communities considered more financially impoverished than Front Royal.  Grants awarded to those projects ranged from about $700,000 to $1 million.

OUCH!

In fact, Hart reported that after contacting DHCD for additional feedback on the Town’s submission and future prospects for success, she was told Front Royal finished 16^th just one spot out of the money – DOUBLE OUCH!!

“It is disappointing – most disappointing to the town employees who put the hours in to do this,” Hart told Royal Examiner.  “It was such a positive team and we got positive feedback from the State all along … We’ll continue on with our game plan and rearrange priorities as necessary,” Hart said.

But even without State assistance, there is positive movement on downtown Front Royal re-development from the private sector with existing and coming businesses; above, the Barnhart properties on the 100 block are undergoing external and internal overhauls; as is the Weaver building across the street – brew pubs, Thai restaurants and more are coming.

She noted that there is a significant amount of private-sector investment either already being undertaken or on the drawing board for downtown Front Royal.  “The State was impressed with that – we want them to know that remains.  We’ll keep moving forward; we’ve got great momentum and we don’t want to lose that.  We’ll keep upbeat and resubmit.”

Then there are old favorites like Royal Cinemas and not-quite-as-old Brooklyn’s Marketplace under the tree next door.

Below is the complete list of communities, projects and amounts awarded:

2017 CDBG Awards