Speak Out: Do the Changes in Downtown Lilburn Matter?

In August, a number of changes are coming to the area of downtown Lilburn -- also known as Main Street.

Firstly, 1910 Public House will finally open. (Fingers crossed.)

It is housed in what used to be the the Blue Rooster Café & Bakery, which closed and then reopened in Lawrenceville. Since the end of 2010, the building has been vacant.

Sure, there were a few events here and there in the space, but nothing permanent until now.

City leaders and residents have said that having a restaurant reopen there would be just the thing that Old Town Lilburn needs.

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And, then there's the $10 million Main Street re-alignment.

The first evident signs that the project is moving along happens this month. Two houses -- near the intersection of Main Street and U.S. Highway 29 -- are being torn down.

They used to house the Bailey Cabinet Shop and a chiropractic office, and are located onboth sides of St. Mary's Independent Living Extension, or S.M.I.L.E. That building also will be torn down after the nonprofit finds another space.

Eventually, a new City Hall and library will sit at the corner of the realigned Main Street and Church Street. The police department is expected to expand into the current City Hall.

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There's also a well-publicized move to increase the arts -- this includes public art, entertainment and more -- in downtown Lilburn. Check in with the Lilburn Arts Alliance to see what's going on.

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Leaders believe all the changes will increase pride in the city and bring more people to the downtown corridor, and thus help invigorate the waning business atmosphere. 

Speak Out: What do you think? What kind of an impact do you think the changes will make? Will Lilburn residents support them; do you? And, will other people who simply past through Lilburn now finally have a reason to stop?

Let us know in the comment section.