OPINION: Seeking Solutions to Vacant Storefronts in Port Washington

Vacant store fronts do not look good and do little to attract new businesses everyone would agree on this but what I found people do not agree on is what to do about the matter.  

From the responses to this topic I see a lot of people placing the blame, but never do I see anyone come up with a plan to possibly remedy the problem. Stop blaming the president or other politicians. Look at what can be done to re-fill the vacant stores and bring more revenue to Port Washington.  

Where is the voice of the rental agents and landlords who might be more flexible in order to make a rental or entice a business to fill a vacant store? What type of business does Port Washington lack and does it make sense to shop local or go to other towns?  Moderately priced clothes, auto parts, entertainment venues, discount variety store are all types of businesses which our area lacks.  

Whether it is Shore Road or Main Street or Port Washington Boulevard, there are vacant store fronts which should be filled by businesses that we do not presently have in the area. Why are areas such as Plandome Road in Manhasset still thriving with only a few vacant stores?

For those who feel the need to be counter-productive on this matter and use the Patch as a sounding board then maybe you need to run for a political office or start your own column. The intentions of the stories on vacant stores is to solve an issue or at least make a very go attempt at doing so.

For those reading, maybe it's time that you speak out about what types of businesses we need in Port Washington and offer sensible ideas to entice business owners to consider looking at our town.

Jonathan Winant, the author of this post, is a Port Washington resident. The views expressed here are solely those of the author.