Let’s unite to fix city’s downtown

The News Virginian / News Virginian
Published: October 7, 2007

The heart of any city is its downtown, regardless of whether other districts or neighborhoods are thriving. The heartbeat in Waynesboro is faint.

Vacant storefronts stare out over quiet streets near the South River. Driving down Main Street at lunch hour, when most downtowns are bustling, an observer gazes at sidewalks populated only by scattered walkers, some apparently on break from jobs with the city. It all stands against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Somewhere in the mist of those peaks, we suspect, are opportunities missed.

It does not have to be this way. Few people in Waynesboro like to hear it, but a 15-minute drive up U.S. 250 is a place that pulses with energy. We know well the longstanding rivalry between Staunton and Waynesboro, and we certainly know Staunton has its drawbacks, but it is impossible to discount the vitality of the Queen City's downtown district and the vision and sheer hard work that produced it.

So why can't that happen here- Certainly, Waynesboro lacks the lure of a renowned theater, stunning pre-Civil War architecture and a fledgling presidential library, all Staunton attractions. But our city offers amenities all its own.

It sits at the southern entrance to Skyline Drive, one of America's most scenic routes and the only public road winding through the nearby Shenandoah National Forest. Where Skyline leaves off here, the Blue Ridge Parkway picks up, working its way from the edge of Shenandoah into Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Those two roads wind through some of America's most picturesque settings.

Further, Waynesboro is situated at roughly the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail, the 2,175-mile footpath stretching from Maine to Georgia. For hikers getting a view of America at its natural best, the Shenandoah Valley is a highlight not to be missed.

Try to spot a location on the map that compares to our own. You won't find one. For those who want to know how to pump life into an ailing downtown district, the answers are all around us. What our city lacks, and what leaders through generations have failed to provide, is a vision that will allow us to realize the vast potential of an extraordinary place surrounded by natural - and national - treasures.

So let's join together in starting a meaningful conversation on the subject. What are your impressions of our downtown- What should be done to invigorate that vital district- What do you think about the direction of our city, and what would you do to change it-

Send your answers to Managing Editor R. Lee Wolverton at or P.O. Box 1027, Waynesboro, VA 22980. Please be sure to include a name and contact number should he wish to discuss your response further with you. In the meantime, we will investigate the subject further and publish our findings along with your thoughts in an upcoming edition.

We look forward to hearing from you. Together, we can help light a spark that will brighten Waynesboro's future for generations to come.