Life in Arbutus may be a bit slower than in other Baltimore County communities.
“People like what they have here and they like living in Arbutus,” said Peirce MacGill, a revitalization specialist with the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development.
“It?s a nice community,” MacGill added.
And it?s part of MacGill?s job to ensure Arbutus capitalizes on that nice community appeal.
The Arbutus Commercial Revitalization District is steering the rebirth of the community that suffered a blow in 1996 when the Hollywood Theatre burned.
Millions of dollars in public and private investment mean the region?s future is bright.
An interest-free loan program and Architect-On-Demand services are available through the county?s Economic Development arm to help business owners and property owners get a new look.
“Buildings get old, and appearance does matter to customers,” he said.
The architecture program puts an architect and business or property owner together to create a before-and-after look of a building and explore renovation possibilities and costs, he said.
The design plans can be taken to contractors for completion, and that?s when the loan program kicks in. Businesses can borrow up to $40,000 interest free for five years for exterior restoration and $20,000 interest free for five years for interior restoration, MacGill said.
If a business owner of property owner plans to spend less than $15,000 on renovation, a 3 percent loan package is available, he said.
“We?ve done 16 loans in Arbutus and most of those are exterior projects,” MacGill said.
A total of $630,000 in loans has been made in Arbutus.
All business people have to do is sign on to the county?s Economic Development Web site for information.
Judy Lombardi, president of Gail Industries, recently completed renovation to three buildings along Arbutus? Leeds Avenue that helped lead the march to revitalization.
Lombardi was able to borrow more than $120,000 interest free from the county for interior and exterior renovations.
“Arbutus is a stable community and area, and attract a nice quality of people,” said Lombardi, a long-time Arbutus resident who chose to locate her specialty advertising company in her adopted hometown.
The loan program and design service, she said, paved the way for not only her own Gail Industries to improve. It also meant businesses renting in her three Leeds Avenue buildings got new digs, also.
“The only thing that would be better is if [the county] said ?Here?s the money and you don?t have to pay it back,?” Lombardi said.
While it took time to fill out the piles of paperwork to qualify for the interest-free loans, she said it was definitely worth the investment.
“The properties look great,” shesaid. “Lots of people have stopped in and complimented us on it.”
For 2007, the focus will be shifting to beautification and promotions, he said.
“We?ve got to get feet on the street in downtown Arbutus,” MacGill said.
FYI
For information on the county?s Arbutus Commerical Revitalization District, visit www.co.ba.md.us/Agencies/economicdev/index.html and click on the Commercial Revitalization tab.
