ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando city officials are seeing an uptick in graffiti along buildings in the downtown area.

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Now, business owners said they’re fed up.

“As a small business owner, it’s difficult to have these things on the wall,” said Dr. Frederic Freeman, owner of Healthquest Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, Inc. “And it just really doesn’t do the community (any) good.”

His building is one of many being defaced around the area. City officials are working to address the problem and help cut costs for business owners.

The program would help property owners in a downtown CRA boundary, and would reimburse up to 80% of the costs of up to $4,000 a year per property.

“We looked at ways where we can be more strategic and address tactical components, and enhancing downtown and noticing that there were things that were popping up that had to be addressed,” said David Barilla, acting executive director of the Downtown Development Bord Community Redevelopment Agency.

That includes adding more lighting and shrubbery to make it less inviting for vandals.

Barilla said research from other cities like New Orleans have seen success in programs that help beautify the city.

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