On June 19, representatives and citizens from the City of Leesburg, the Community Development Corp. of Leesburg (CDC), and Wharton-Smith joined to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Pine Street. See photos.
Pine Street historically featured many black-owned businesses, which, over time, witnessed the area start to decline. The City of Leesburg and the surrounding community joined to utilize funding from the American Recovery Act and reinvest back into the area. The project featured widening the road, improving the streetscape, and adding street parking.
“This new look for Pine Street symbolizes our commitment to the development and growth of Leesburg,” said Leesburg City Commissioner Allyson Berry. “It is a testament to our shared vision of community, thriving on unity, progress, and the legacy of those who paved the way. So today, Juneteenth, we celebrate the significant step forward and acknowledge the rich history that brought us here.”
“I am honored to be here and want to extend our many thanks to the city, the CDC, County Commissioners, and all who brought this project to life,” said Wharton-Smith Project Manager Travis Scott. “This was a real collaboration between all parties and departments, and I’m excited to see this area return to what it was.”
Despite the rain, the celebration continued. After the ribbon cutting, guests enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by Cotton’s Kitchen, one of the many black-owned businesses excited about the future of their business on Pine Street.
