Chris Lassiter's Grand Idea

New Life for a Downtown Store


Sketch by Bob Kirchman, The Kirchman Studio.

Grand Furniture is leaving downtown Staunton and News Leader Columnist Chris Lassiter has a grand idea for filling the vacant store. He proposes a Childrens' Museum similar to the ones in Richmond, Harrisonburg and Charlottesville. Here's What Mr. Lassiter Has to Say [click to read]. Here's an even better idea: Let's do it without government help. Oh, we'll take the tax credits for our in-kind donations, but I'd love to see this happen simply because the people of Staunton and their businesses want it enough to build it. Remember how the Gypsy Express was rebuilt because the people wanted it. The city cut it out of the budget, remember?

For too long we've come up with grand ideas and assumed we needed the government to step in and fund it. I think we can reclaim civic pride and have some fun in the process!

Now, what do you think the BAR will think of my caryatids?

Lynn [click to read] likes the idea.