Merchants, officials disagree on impact of new W&L housing

By Leslie Yevak

Lexington city officials say they expect an increased demand for student-friendly businesses downtown as a result of Washington and Lee University’s recent decision to require third-year students to live on campus.

But not all merchants share their optimism. Blue Sky Bakery co-owner Brenda Gregg said she thinks the new housing will pull students away from Lexington, especially when it comes to dining out.

“By having a contained environment like [on-campus housing], I definitely think downtown businesses will suffer,” Gregg said.

The differing predictions of city officials and business owners are echoed in the opinions of students, merchants and others about what will attract more student business downtown.

W&L sophomore Caroline Sandy said the ability to use her student ID card as payment at off- campus businesses would get her inside downtown restaurants more frequently.

“Especially if there was some sort of student discount included,” Sandy said.

But as far as George Roig, manager of Salerno’s, is concerned, student ID cards are a nonstarter. Roig says his restaurant tried to implement student ID cards as a form of payment about seven years ago. But it was not worth the hassle.

“The fees [W&L] wanted to charge us for using it didn’t make it financially viable,” he said.

One option: more Lexington nightlife

Recently elected City Council Member Patrick Rhamey thinks students might be more inclined to frequent Lexington if it offered more nightlife. One option, he said, is a local music venue for weekly live events.

Rhamey said pulling students to downtown at night would also provide a walkable, safe alternative to spending their weekends outside the city.

“We need to keep in mind that the fiscal health of our community and the well-being of the student population are parallel,” he said.

But some students worry that a live music venue might not welcome collegians of all ages. Sandy said the venue would be popular among students for only a short time after it opened.

“[Students] might go a couple times to check it out, and then revert to fraternity parties,” she said.

Gregg said more students used to patronize Blue Sky, which is about a block from campus and across the street from a fraternity house. But she thinks recent additions by the University have kept students closer to campus.

“I think there’s a lot of food options on campus now,” said Gregg. “You’ve got Hillel House, E-Café, and I think the University is trying hard to keep students on campus.”

Rhamey says attracting students is not downtown’s only challenge. He thinks Lexington must find a way to accommodate students, working class people and retirees.

“I think we need to be aware that with a different group of people, perhaps there’s a different set of tastes and interests,” he said.

Washington and Lee’s new housing plans include additional on-campus food options, but City Council Member David Sigler doesn’t think that will stop students from visiting downtown.

“Competition is key,” Sigler said. Students need variety, he said, and Lexington restaurants should expect a more even balance between local and student customers.

Students frequent another college town’s businesses

Students are much more in evidence in the central business districts of some other college towns. In Charlottesville, University of Virginia students frequent nearby restaurants, bars and shops.

The Corner, an area across the street from campus, caters to college students, said Kaitlyn McMillan, a sophomore at UVa.

“The Corner attracts students by offering nearly everything that a college student could need or want,” McMillan said in an email. “The best bagel shop in Charlottesville … is there, as well as a Bank of America, Starbucks, CVS, convenience stores and lots of housing.”

Charlottesville City Council Member Kristin Szakos said the city’s rich nightlife also attracts UVa students downtown, and they bring in a lot of money for the city. Free concerts attract students almost every Friday.

“Especially on Friday nights or Saturday nights, there are a lot of students downtown,” said Szakos. “It’s a huge impact economically.”

McMillan agreed.

“Downtown Charlottesville has lots of small theaters and other venues for anyone looking to enjoy arts and entertainment on the weekend,” she said.

Szakos said UVa students recently approached her about electing a UVa student liaison to the Charlottesville city government. The liaison would represent the students’ perspectives and ideas to the city council, she said.

Getting students more involved in Lexington

Rhamey says Lexington’s city council is also taking measures to ensure local students become more involved in the city. He says he wants to focus on policies that create a friendly and appealing environment for students and for potential businesses.

Incoming businesses will also create more jobs for local residents, he said.

“It keeps money within the city limits,” he said. “That money goes to the business owners and the employees.”

Gregg said more student money downtown would benefit more than just local merchants and job seekers, because tax revenues would increase, too.

“We would have more money for our schools, the infrastructure of the city,” she said. “[We could] improve our roads, figure out better parking.”

Rhamey said a better student presence downtown would also encourage more interaction with local residents.

“It increases the vibrancy of downtown,” Rhamey said. “It adds greater diversity.”