According to a cover page from FCDC on the PNDC site, FCDC since 1993 has rehabbed several commercial properties that are currently occupied by current businesses. http://www.pndc.net/frankford.htm
This is a distortion of fact. The regime of FCDC that pioneered this was that of Chris Johansen and Lonnie Chafin who had a vision and actually made things begin to happen.
The commercial occupancy rate has hit another low and is back to the vacancy rate of pre-1993. Yes, those buildings no longer belong to FCDC, but FCDC dropped the ball on commercial development and what just a few years ago seemed like the possibility of a thriving commercial district has been left in the lurch because FCDC decided it was no longer going to concentrate on commercial development, but focus more on new housing (which also fell through a hole). They have made nothing but a mess of it.
FCDC needs to revamp it's staff, update it's websites and concentrate on funding to develop it's commercial district and allow in put by business owners and entreprenuers. There needs to be a full blown campaign by qualified and intelligent candidates to bring commerce and private investment to Frankford's commercial district.
This new restaurant that is opening needs the full support of the FCDC and the community. Without full support, again, the ball will be dropped and again another chance for the revitalization will fall through the cracks and entreprenuers like Joan that is opening Mozaic will be left in the lurch.
If Joan is willing to take the chance to invest her finances to renovate and build a new restaurant and start this project out of her own pocket than it proves people like this can make things happen if those that impede it's progress will just allow for some innovative thinking for a change and provide the services that they receive funding for instead of flying off in every conceivable direction and making nothing happen.
When Mozaic opens it will need a concentrated effort of support to make it work. The community needs to support this business whole heartedly in order to pave the way for new businesses.

Thank you.
J