West Redding Business District seeking support from town to put back removed district signs.

The West Redding Business District was so excited to finally have the  Simpaug Bridge reopen after 16 months of it being closed  only to be let down yet again. The signs to the West Redding Business District were completely removed. Officials  promised the district prior to the reopening  that signs would be redirected once the bridge was to open  but it has been a month since they were taken down and nothing has been done. Upon emails to the first selectman asking why,  the district was told they are now set to go before zoning approval this Wednesday Jan. 9^th at a Town Hall meeting at 7:30. It is open to the public. We ask the townspeople to support the district by allowing these small white oval bumper sticker signs to remain.

What the West Redding Business district finds frustrating is that the town of Redding as stated in The Redding Pilot has spent over a million dollars in grant money for the Georgetown Redevelopment project  (formerly the Gilbert and Bennett Mill) that although unfortunate ,currently seems to have no future. No investors are actively involved in this project from what we have read. It is not happening and yet we have an existing Business district with a federal post office, a State operated train Station and ten local tax paying businesses' and they can't even give us our signs back to let people know we are here and how to get to us.

We as a district are so tired of the overwhelming lack of support . We don't have a better business bureau in Redding, there is nothing to help our businesses survive let alone flourish. And believe it or not people have trouble finding West Redding Center. Yes, even people who live in Redding. Mind you  these signs are small , white and oval  and are the size of a large bumper sticker. You are lucky if you even see them . On top of that they are already paid for so why wouldn’t you use them? We understand the desire to keep Redding beautiful. We totally support that but it is a matter of common sense to have signs to direct people especially since they have been detoured for the past 16 months. The districts businesses have definitely been hurt by the bridge outage as well as the economy , super storm sandy, blizzards, power outages and the recent tragedy where a car and train collided killing two teenagers. This is just another blow. All we are asking for is to be represented and treated as if we matter. We need the town to do the right thing for its struggling community.

Dottie DeLuca
Owner Fleur De Lis Antiques and Décor
4 Long Ridge Rd
West Redding Ct 06896