The Observer Newspapers | Downtown Herndon: Untapped Potential

April 17, 2008

Downtown Herndon: Untapped Potential

To the editor:

As a local resident for 32 years, I have watched the downtown area of Herndon fail to live up to its potential for far too long. A redeveloped, pedestrian friendly downtown would benefit every Herndon resident by bringing convenient shopping, entertainment, additional dining options and millions in extra revenue for the town. Ask yourself, how many times over the last year have you driven to Reston or Dulles Town Center for a nice dinner or a quick shopping trip? With a revitalized downtown, the money which we now spend in other cities could be funneled to Herndon businesses which in turn could help fund education, infrastructure and capital improvements throughout the town.

Our current mayor and Town Council members have spent two years focused almost exclusively on eliminating the day labor site at the expense of other issues such as a downtown development. Instead of a revitalized downtown where I can proudly bring family and friends, we have scores of men again congregating on Elden Street. On the bright side, each Herndon resident did save 9 cents a year by eliminating the day labor site (Note to current council: Please keep my 9 cents).

While I understand that Herndon does not need development at any cost, I am frustrated by speed at which we are moving forward. Now is the time to finalize plans for a pedestrian-friendly downtown Herndon and I believe we need a change in leadership in order to get this done.

Justin Britt

Herndon