Residents Call for Changes to Smithtown Main Street

When Patch asked if Smithtown's Main Street needs a facelift, readers were quick to agree its one of several changes the downtown area needs to become vibrant again.

_Patch _reader Nick even commented, "_That is a rhetorical question!"

"Smithtown has been run down for years, with little parking and ease of access to businesses. It should be cleaned up and brought up to date while preserving that small town feeling. I vote yes," wrote Denise Z. McMahon on Facebook.

Councilman Bob Creighton, a challenger for Smithtown's Supervisor seat this November, is calling for a temporary suspension of the town's fees for downtown business and store owners willing to renovate their facade. 

Creighton hopes it will have a small but positive impact on the town's central business areas. 
 
"There is a fee for facade renovations in this town? Good Lord, no wonder this town looks so rundown," commented Ryan Dave on Facebook. 

However, others doubted if the town does decide to suspend its fee for facade renovations, whether it will make a difference to business owners. 

I don't think a $250 fee is going to make a big difference to a storeowner over renovating his storefront. But it's a nice gesture," responded Brian Whitehurst. "Smithtown needs to maintain the roads, sidewalks, and lights. Otherwise let the free market recover itself." 

Many residents pointed at issues with heavy traffic, lack of parking spaces and lack of diversity among the stores on Main Street as larger issues. 

"Many properties could look better, nothing uglier then an empty building though!! Certainly the bad economy has not helped that, but perhaps the bigger problem is the unreasonable amounts of traffic and poor parking. What are the candidates proposing to do about that?? The simplest of fixes would be to address the timing of the traffic lights which are an utter joke," commented reader Donald Toth. 

Others said the area needs more eateries and small shops to browse in. 

"Smithtown needs to tell insurance agents, Sleepy's and other one-time places of business to get off Main St. Who wants to walk down the street and visit an insurance agent or buy a mattress?," wrote Marek Jaworski. 

What do you think? Will the Town of Smithtown's efforts to encourage businesses work, or is more change needed - and by who? 

Tell us in the comments below.