For a very long time, it seems, different groups under different names have engaged themselves in trying to revitalize downtown Washington.

To be able to make our downtown once again a vital, flourishing place of commerce would be a good thing.

There have been consultants, surveys have been conducted, and some changes initiated. All this over the course of many years.

The Stewart Parkway, and the boardwalk that allows you to both exercise and observe and enjoy the winged inhabitants and the large turtle population, are really special.

The Estuarium and the wonderful new performance and green space venue on the waterfront are functional and aesthetically genuine assets. The small children’s play area, done in memory of Gary Tomasulo (who dearly loved his adopted town) is special.

My parents moved here in 1936 when my father opened the first Belk-Tyler store here. He had gone with the organization in 1932 in Rocky Mount, then opened the first Belk-Tyler store in Tarboro in 1934. In all, he spent 46 years with the company. He had opportunities to move to other places, but my parents loved Washington.

During my father’s years here, the first location was in what had been Bowers Brothers store situated where Inner Banks Artisans Center is now.

Then in 1955, Belk-Tyler moved across the street into a refurbished, somewhat reconfigured, building where Carolina Dairies and the Keyes Hotel had been.

In 1972, the store relocated to the new Washington Square Mall where it is today. My father retired in 1978 and passed away in 1990.

A lot of change took place in Washington, as well as across the country, in the world of retail during those years. Change is inevitable. Some things for the better; some not.

Our downtown seemed to be coming back – business health-wise – until the “Great Recession” engulfed us. In many ways, this is where we’re “stuck” today.

I recall talking with a friend, who was maybe 6-8 years older than I, shortly after we moved back home in September of 1991. He was a native and was in the insurance business as well as home building with a partner.

His view was that Washington might regain its business health downtown but would never again be the place we had known for so many years. He was right, of course, at least about it never being again the Washington we had known.

From a personal perspective – just my own opinion – there is no need for any more paid consultants to be brought in. That’s a “been there, done that” expenditure. Monies, some of which, yielded little harvest.

So, do I have an answer to, a solution for, a way to resuscitate our town? In a word: Nope.

Maybe the hope lies in the return of a resurgent economy.

But … as my late friend said, we might regain at least a viable measure of a healthy business community again. We might.

Perhaps more importantly, we must accept that downtown will never be again as it was.

Different, perhaps; but not as it once was.

And … we don’t need any more paid consultants – “experts” – brought in.

Just one man’s opinion.