Let’s compromise on awning

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: October 24, 2008

Like most ordinary folk, I do not understand the thought process that goes into making most government decisions—be they federal, state, or local. The rhyme and reason usually escape me. With that said, would someone please explain why the Reidsville city manager and mayor seem bent on causing the closure of one of Reidsville ‘s most prominent, beneficial and long-established businesses—Settle Street Station.
Settle Street Station antique mall has been at its current 112 Settle St. address for more than 12 years. Arguably, Settle Station and another Reidsville icon, Short Sugars, are the only places in Reidsville that consistently, day-after-day, bring folks from distant locations to downtown.
It seems the city “fathers” want to tear down the street-side awning that currently protects Settle Street Station from the elements, an awning that has been in place since the 1950s. The awning protects the interior of Settle Street’s Station from heat and burning rays of the afternoon sun on this side of Settle Street. As anyone appreciates fine furniture prints and art work or anything of value that has color will tell you, the sun’s direct rays are the enemy.
So why are the city fathers pushing to remove the awning? Among other things, it seems the current awning will not blend with the multi-million dollar Reidsville Market Square pavilion planned for the Old Farmers Market area across the street from Settle Street Station. As part of the new pavilion project the city also plans to rework the street area near the pavilion, replacing sidewalks and planting a few trees on the Settle Street Station side of the street. So the awning has to go. These trees, however, while potentially attractive, will not protect the store or its contents from the sun’s burning rays.
Wayne and Bobby Strider, the owners of Settle Street Station, have met with the city manager and the mayor on several occasions. They have explained their concerns.
Do not get me wrong. I firmly believe that Reidsville’s downtown area can stand a bit of fine tuning, but do the city manager and the mayor really want a boarded-up and empty building directly across the street from their multi-million dollar pavilion? And that’s what will happen. If the awning goes, Settle Street Station will close. The owners have no choice. Their cooling bills will increase drastically and many of their dealers will remove their items from the antique mall because they cannot be protected from the sun’s damaging rays.
Furthermore—as a bit of additional food for thought for the mayor and the city manager—once the planned equestrian center gets operational, Settle Street Station along with other antique shops and art shops in the downtown area would be a drawing point for the folks with money to buy things. Not just food, gas, and overnight accommodations—they also spend their money on collectibles and take-home items, be they art, furniture, or oldie-but-goodie trinkets. Much of this spending will recycle into the local economy.
Therefore, maybe a bit of positive discussion and compromise on the part of city manager and the Reidsville mayor and the owners of Settle Street Station would be worth the effort both for the city and the owners of Settle Street Station.
Nancy R. Ferguson
Reidsville