Waynesboro squanders potential

I see that tourism is doing quite well in Staunton. I commend them for all of the hard work, creative thinking, good leadership and vision and especially the drive to carry out their vision. I see tourists in Waynesboro also – but mainly to ask directions to Staunton.

Unfortunately, there is too much of a who-cares-what-things-look-like, oh-well, so-what apathetic attitude in Waynesboro. When a business moves out of downtown Waynesboro, all I hear from our leaders – “gee, what an opportunity we have, with such a vacant building to fill.”  Well, there are obviously many “opportunities” in Waynesboro because vacant buildings are plentiful.

Many owners of the downtown buildings don’t even live in the area and are not willing to give rental cost breaks to new businesses; they would rather have the building vacant and rot, rather than lower rental prices. Plus, many of the buildings left vacant from Waynesboro on up the mountain, I feel, are basically being used as write-offs. There should be a fix-it-up, tear-it-down or sell-it-to-someone-who-will-do-something-with-it ordinance. Waynesboro might get a few tourists if they would advertise – “Come to Waynesboro and see the ruins of a time gone by.”

Shortly after the Shenandoah National Park came into being, Waynesboro recognized its own unique position by erecting “Gateway” arches. The one on West Main Street and Rosser Avenue had the inscription, “Waynesboro (and beneath this) Gateway to Shenandoah National Park.” I so wish that kind of pride existed today.

Staunton has awakened and Waynesboro is still sleeping. Will there ever be leadership as in Staunton for Waynesboro to pull this town out of its apathetic sleep? Will there ever be the kind of leadership that will make Waynesboro “fit in” with all the beauty surrounding it? Or will it forever be destined to be the “thorn between and among roses”?