I promised you a surprise, and it WAS delivered yesterday (before the rain we're supposed to get, thankfully). This particular one came in a plain brown wrapper, which ordinarily isn't all that festive a package, but in this case, I think it's a welcome color. Check out the 'before' and 'after photos:
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| Before |
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| Well on the way to 'after' |
As I knocked on doors while campaigning, many residents (particularly those in Audubon) told me their biggest gripe was the chartreause green and polka-dot paint job on the former 'Bud's Bar'. They felt it was an eyesore and gave Lower Providence Township a negative image, as it is the first thing you see when you come into the Township via Audubon.
Well, Audubon, I heard you. Trying to be proactive, I reached out to the property owner and asked, how about if we spruce up the building/property a little? Can I get in there to repaint for the good of the community? He said he had no problem with that, and that had anyone only asked him, this could have been done long before now. Being a person of action, I decided to get it done before he changed his mind (and before rain in the forecast arrived).
I donated the paint and organized friends (and friends of friends) to come do the work. I think you can agree, it looks fantastic. Hopefully, our neighbors in Audubon are a little happier today, and our Township is a tad bit easier to market to those businesses interested in locating here as we begin our new marketing and branding campaign to attract such interests to Lower Providence.
Long term, we need to come up with a solution that both preserves this 300+ year old building, (one of the original historical structures in Lower Providence), and does not inhibit the flow of ever-increasing traffic through our Township from other places. Until that day arrives, at least this is a little easier on the eyes.
UPDATE: To hear more about this story, listen live to WYFL 1180AM on Monday morning, May 16 at 8 am (to be rebroadcast again at approximately the same time on Election Day, May 17).
