AMHERST - A vacant piece of downtown real estate could get a facelift this summer.
The Amherst and Area Chamber of Commerce is hoping to work with a group of partners to spruce up the site of the former Petro Canada service station at the corner of Church and Albion streets.
"What we're looking at is anything from putting flower arrangements in there to perhaps an information kiosk that will help people looking for information on where to go in town," chamber president Randy Smith said Tuesday.
The former service station property has been empty for more than a decade with the garage boarded up and the perimeter fenced in. It's also something that has been targeted by the town for development as part of its beautification strategy.
Smith, who spoke to Amherst town council Monday about his organization's plans, said the property owner has given the chamber the go-ahead to try and develop something on the property and he said a committee has been struck to look for and work with partners to make something happen there.
"I see our role as that of a facilitator and a partner. It's not something we can do on our own. Essentially what we're looking for is for people to tell us what they want there," he said.
"It's available to us and it looks like we'll be able to go forward with it."
The chamber also looked at the former Ultramar property on the corner of Croft and Albion, but Smith said talks didn't progress very far.
The Petro Canada property would be an excellent location for something like a garden and/or information kiosk because it's practically at the centre of town, he noted.
Mayor Robert Small applauded the chamber's initiative, saying the former garage property is one of several that residents often complain about to council.
"I think it's a great idea. I hope they can make that work," the mayor said. "It's one of the things we hear about on a regular occurrence."
The mayor said the town would be interested in helping make the project a reality.
dcole@amherstdaily.com
