Letter: It’s time to re-energize downtown Niles
Published 9:55 am Thursday, October 24, 2013
To the editor:
I recently read Mike Caldwell’s article in The Daily Star about taking care of our hearts. I believe his words are what people need to think about when thinking of the downtown area of Niles.
I grew up in Niles, and remember well as a teen what a great place the downtown area was.
The old JC Penney building, Montgomery Wards, a bakery, a five-and-dime store, which I believe was a Woolworths. I can even recall we had two theatres and a couple groceries.
Everyone did their shopping downtown. I moved away from the area for about 20 years, but always found my summers to be trips to what I called home (Michigan) to visit and see family.
I think it would be great if Niles could be rebuilt a little and become in Caldwell’s words “re-energized” again.
Everyone in Niles pays taxes and I believe some of that money could be put into the area downtown. It is only going to benefit the town in the long run.
It is nice to go to a mall once in a while but there is still no place like local. Some cities seem to revitalize their downtowns. Why not Niles?
Dolores Arroyo
Niles