One county official called the property under development along Ninth Street in Ironton “the city’s front door.”

That is certainly true and we hope to see this entryway get the full window treatment with all the shrubbery and landscaping to set it off.

While that analogy may not be perfect, it is a fairly apt way of describing how important this property and this project is to the city’s future.

Following a purchase of several pieces of land, a limited liability corporation formed by the county and city port authorities, the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation and the CAO now owns more than six acres between Ninth street and U.S. 52.

This land is prime developable property that the partners hope to market to potential commercial developers.

It has long been rumored that a hotel would be built there and that would make great sense because it would address a need for Ironton and the county and likely attract spin-off businesses such as restaurants and retail.

Regardless, this property is a key asset for the city and the entire county, so we charge our leaders with making smart decisions and allowing public discussion of this project that could help inject new life to an entire section of Ironton.

And this work shouldn’t be confused with the development already under way at the corner of Ninth Street and Park Avenue.

Still owned by a private developer, no one is talking publicly about what this will be but several sources have confirmed it will almost certainly be a specialized medical office of some sort.

If all this property is truly Ironton’s front door, we must make sure we are ready when opportunity comes knocking.