I Love Small Town Squares
There is just nothing more calming and friendly feeling than driving through a small town and looking at their town square. Usually the court house is in the center and little local businesses surround the square. If your lucky, the town is thriving enough that stores are spilling off the square. There is a bank, an insurance company, a lawyer, a realtor, a local café and coffee shop, and the boutique shops that women love. Perhaps a barber and beauty shop…. Post office, etc. Everything you need to never have to go any further out of town. Granted many of these buildings are old, but they have been updated, or taken care of, and really gives the small town charm and character that we love.
But I drive through towns and see town squares looking like ghost towns. 
Just breaks my heart. Who owns the buildings? Someone has to paying taxes and insurance on these buildings. Are they just being left to dilapidate? Are they salvageable? The town has houses. I see the occasional for sale sign. But who is wanting to move to a town that is not thriving? Everyone has to drive to the next town for groceries or other necessities.
I know that for new small businesses commercial leases can be expensive in the beginning. And you are always hesitant to sign a long lease not knowing if your business will dive or thrive. Why don’t the owners of these buildings give small businesses the opportunity through some “Sweat Equity” type leasing. Let them go in, clean and fixed the place up to run their business, let them have 6 months of free rent (or more depending on the work needed) to see if they can get the place up and going….then go into a lease situation. It is really a win win for both sides…and the town! Like paying if forward… Owner’s building is fixed up and the owner gets a paying tenant in the long run. You want your tenants to thrive…and be able to pay rent…but there is nothing wrong with giving someone a chance and getting something in return for your effort.
Is there no kind of Chamber of Commerce in these small towns. Perhaps they could start one…volunteer type until things get up and going.
Perhaps you know someone who could get this going in a small town close to you. Perhaps you are the person who could do it. A journey starts with one step as they say….
Sherry Scales, REALTOR®
HomeNet Realty
12444 Research Blvd, Ste 100
Austin, TX 78759
512.925.8928 Cell
Visit my website: www.SherryScales.com or www.Luxury-Homes-in-Austin.com to search for homes.
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