Two of Middleburg's nagging problems are about to get some help: more downtown parking and public restrooms.

The South Liberty Street parking lot will be built on the site that was purchased several years ago for this purpose. Thirty-one paved spaces will be available, and trees will line two sides of the lot. A federal transportation grant of $160,000 supplemented with the funds to be derived from parking fees and fines will cover the costs of the new parking lot. Requests for bids are now going out now, with the goal being to open the lot in time for holiday shoppers.

Ask any shop owner what the town needs most after more parking, and they will say, "Public Restrooms!" Because they've shouted loudly and often, this need is about to be addressed with a public/private partnership initiative.

The little building next to the South Liberty Street lot will come down, and in its place two public restrooms will be built.

The new restrooms will be connected to a two-story office building with a breezeway. The existing building's lot is being purchased by Tyler & Co. Homes, a local Class A general contracting firm, which plans to use the building for their offices, and they will build the restrooms. The town of Middleburg will provide the water and sewer tap, maintenance for the new restrooms and a sidewalk along Liberty Street.

These positive developments present village merchants with a great opportunity to spruce up the back side of Washington Street, which will now be more heavily traveled by pedestrians.

"It would be appropriate for the town, in cooperation with property owners, to identify ways these rear areas can be made more attractive, more accessible and better related to the new parking lot without compromising the delivery and trash disposal needs of the businesses," said Martha Semmes, Main Street Loudoun Coordinator.

"The Loudoun County Design Cabinet, which is a volunteer group of architects and urban design professionals, could be asked by the Town to conduct a design charrette on this area to help identify solutions that would benefit the public, the town and the property owners. The Design Cabinet has donated its time for a number of design charrettes for Loudoun towns over the past several years."

Middleburg will send letters out this month inviting property owners and tenants to a workshop to discuss this opportunity to create a more attractive commercial sector.