LEESBURG, Fla. — Several business owners in downtown Leesburg say a rundown intersection is keeping their customers away.
They say people have to pass abandoned businesses at the corner of Main Street and U.S. 27 when they drive into downtown.
The official entrance to the downtown is at U.S. 27 and Main Street. Merchants complain that it is not a very impressive entrance to the city.
Main Street in downtown Leesburg features a collection of shops and restaurants.
Joe Shipes, who heads up Leesburg Partnership, said the entrance to downtown could use some work.
"It's just not a good first impression when you come into the downtown area," said Shipes.
Shipes said the blighted area at the head of Main Street needs to go. His group has a $1 million plan called the Gateway Streetscape Project. But he said so far, city officials are not expressing much interest.
"The budget was just recently approved. In this particular case, with Streetscape, the city currently does not have any budgeting for this project," said Leesburg city spokesman Robert Sargent.
Merchants said renovating the first few blocks along Main Street is needed to help the downtown businesses succeed. They said the last facelift dates back 14 years, and they want the city to finish the job.
"Even Rome had a gateway thousands of years ago," said Shipes.
The City Commission meets Monday night to look at the plan.
WFTV
