I’ve been on a permanent high about the Riverside renovation project ever since Bitsy and I met with the contractors, and the sun outside my doorstep this morning isn’t hurting that mood.
I am anxious to hear back as to their approach and, more importantly, the price tag.
I can’t say that Bitsy and I agree yet about the content and extent of the renovation, but we’ve got it started, and I have to say, I’m glad she’s there. I feel wholly inadequate when it comes to planning and executing the construction.
From her family business, Bitsy surely has had more exposure to projects like this than I have. I thought it might help if I reached out to Bernie but it turns out he doesn’t have much. Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not. Maybe he just doesn’t want to deal with Bitsy. Who knows.
The building occupied by the Riverside has been around for quite a while, so there will be historical considerations, too – all more than I know how to manage, but not beyond Bitsy. The building on the other side of the street, where the original Riverside bar and restaurant was situated, has been empty for a number of years. We haven’t talked to the contractors about doing anything with that building but if we elect to include it in our project, it may also be subject to the same requirements.
And then there’s Jill, who even though she just got here, seems to have some thoughts.
“You know what this town needs?” she asks.
“What?” I ask with deep hesitation.
“Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a bookstore in the store front adjacent to the Riverside? A separate front entrance from the street, sort of around the corner, but to the Riverside from the inside. Think of it.”
I could tell she was kicking into PR-girl mode as her arms waved. She held her hands together, like a movie director, to form a sort of frame around the room.
“People could move freely between the shops, taking books to the bar, drinks to the bookstore … whatever they wanted as they liked it. And with technology, we could install kiosks where they could pay for each thing individually if they wanted … really pull this place into the future ….”
“Wow, I love it,” I say, “but too soon to tell Bitsy, I’d say.”
But not too soon to tell the contractors … right?