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Editorial
Why are Mount Vernon's neighborhood business districts important?

By Joe Parisi

     Can area malls and discount centers take the place of our neighborhood business districts in the future? The answer is most definitely no. Though malls and discount centers play an important role in our communities, neighborhood business districts are much more than shopping centers.  It is critical for everyone involved in a neighborhood business district revitalization to understand the value of that district. Here are some good reasons why neighborhood business districts are important (not in order of importance):
     1. Your neighborhood commercial district is a prominent employment center. Even the smallest neighborhood business district in Mount Vernon employs large amounts of people and is therefore a significant employer in the community—good jobs near where people live.
     2. As a business center, your neighborhood commercial district plays a major role. It often serves as an incubator for new businesses—the successes of tomorrow.
     3. Most of the businesses in Mount Vernon's neighborhood commercial districts are independently owned. They support a local family who supports the local schools, etc. Finally, independent businesses keep profits in town.
     4. A neighborhood business district is a reflection of how your community sees
itself—a critical factor in business retention, expansion, and recruitment
efforts. When businesses begin looking at Mount Vernon as a possible location, they
examine many aspects including the quality of life. If your neighborhoods do not support strong commercial business districts, that may reflect poorly on the quality of life in your neighborhood.
     5. Your neighborhood business district represents a significant portion of the
city's  tax base. If your business district declines, jobs will be lost and property values will decrease, subsequently increasing the tax burden on other parts of your community.
     6. Your neighborhood business district is an indispensable shopping and service
center. Though it may no longer hold the place as your community’s most dominant shopping center, due to the creation of the Sandford Boulevard business corridor, it still includes unique shopping and service opportunities. Attorneys, physicians, accountants, and insurance offices, as well as financial institutions, are often located in your neighborhood business districts.
     7. Your neighborhood business district is the core of your community’s heritage.
Many of the buildings are historically or architecturally significant, and help to highlight your community’s legacy.
     8. Neighborhood business districts represent a vast amount of public and
private investment. Imagine the costs to recreate all the public infrastructure and
buildings already existing in your commercial area. Think of the waste of past dollars spent if neighborhood business districts are neglected.
     9. A neighborhood business district is often a major tourist draw. When people
travel, they want to see unique places with a sense of pride. It's important to think in a very positive way, and think that there isn’t a neighborhood business district like yours in the world!
     10. And, perhaps, most important, your neighborhood business district provides
a sense of community and place.
     So, chip in and support all the merchants that are doing business in communities all across the great city of Mount Vernon. They need your support on a daily basis in order to stay solvent.

Joe Parisi, Editor