I just read your article about plans to bring a radio station to the Fayetteville Square. While radio advertising is nice to promote Fayetteville, the powers that be need to rethink the plan to locate the station on the Square. To revitalize an area, you need to have something that will draw people in.
Fayetteville is on the right track with several businesses: Twisted Taco, a jewelers, a consignment shop, photographer, etc., but a radio station brings no foot traffic.
In years past there was hardly a reason to go to Fayette Square except as a destination to the photo studio or jewelry store. There was a land management office, attorney’s office, a political party office and some other nondescript offices.
There was no reason to park your car and walk around the square. It took years and years to get some restaurants in and create a place for diners and shoppers to go.
If Fayetteville wants to revitalize downtown and have shopping and dining, they must create a place with foot traffic to support those places that rely on a customer base.
Ardith Tarpley
(A recent past resident of Fayetteville for 17 years and still in the area)
