BEDFORD (WSLS 10) - The town of Bedford is offering incentives for people to move into some of its older buildings.
On Tuesday, the Bedford Economic Development Authority demolished two buildings in the town after spending more than $90,000 in maintenance since 2001.
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"They had some issues and became uninhabitable because of asbestos and other leak issues," says Traci Blido with the Bedford County Economic Development.
Older buildings are an ongoing issue, especially since many are empty and deteriorating.
It's why the town and a group called Bedford Main Street are now working on several projects to get people interested in moving into the old buildings before they suffer the same fate.
They've recently offered financial incentives such as a no interest loan pool and tax abatements. In addition, they're now offering free design assistance from being part of Virginia's Main Street.
"The town has become more proactive and looking at ways to increase economic development, not only to be able to help businesses currently in town but want to relocate here," says Jim Messier, Arthur's Jewelry.
However, Messier said the struggle is to get people to see the potential. Michael Siehien, who owns Azul restaurant in Bedford, saw the potential.
"Honestly I drove by this place one day and I saw this in my mind, the stone, the facade, the aluminum," says Michael Siehien, owner of Azul Restaurant. "I knew what I wanted."