From its perch above the Barnes and Noble in Kenmore Square, the Citgo sign has seen it all.

It’s seen Kenmore Square in its heyday in the 1960s, when bars and nightclubs populated the area. It’s seen the closing of these bars and the resulting vacancies. And now, as the Citgo sign remains one of the few unchanged aspects of Kenmore Square in decades, it has a bird’s eye view of the renovations and resurrections currently taking place in the area.

‘What we’re seeing is the fruit of more than two decades of effort that we feel is an important investment in the community,’ said Boston University spokesman Kevin Carleton, referring to the recent opening of Blockbuster Video, as well as the construction of Hotel Commonwealth, which is expected to open in early 2003.

These openings mark the beginning of a long-term plan finally being put into action for Kenmore Square, according to Jessica Shumaker, communications assistant for the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

The BRA, along with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Department of Public Works and the Boston Transportation Department is designing further improvements of the Square, Shumaker said. These changes include narrower streets and wider sidewalks as well as new crosswalks, trees and streetlights. In addition, she said the intersection between Brookline and Commonwealth avenues will be realigned and the MBTA station will receive a new transparent glass and steel arched canopy.

Matt Lehman, owner of Comicopia, a comic trade store located at 464 Commonwealth Ave., said he has already seen Kenmore Square transform since his college years.

‘It was more of a hangout and exciting place, but it also brought seedy elements along with that,’ Lehman said, describing Kenmore Square before its transformation.

Over the years, the condition of Kenmore Square gradually deteriorated and police action became more prevalent, Lehman said. Then, in 1983, BU bought the building at 660 Beacon St. and converted it to Barnes and Noble, a bookstore serving both the university with textbooks as well as the community with trade books.

‘Part of the purpose of that [purchase] was to create an anchor in Kenmore Square … in the hopes of acquiring other businesses in Kenmore Square,’ Carleton said.

Since then, the university has included the beautification of Kenmore Square as a priority in its master plan. According to the university’s most recent master plan, released in 1997 and expiring this fall, ‘to this day, Boston University remains committed to Kenmore Square’s revitalization and works closely with resident and business leaders to improve Kenmore Square’s retail health, appearance and safety.’

‘It’s the gateway to our campus,’ said BU spokesman Colin Riley.

Although BU is not a developer and does not buy and build most of the stores in the square, the university does encourage developers’ interests in the area, according to Riley. University leaders have a vested interest in the safety of Kenmore Square due to its proximity to campus, Riley said.

Many area business owners said they are pleased with the recent and future changes and look forward to getting more foot traffic from visitors to the area.

The J. Square Diner has been open for only four months. Owner Juan Areiza said he expects the renovations, and the opening of the hotel in particular, to help his business.

‘I don’t have a lot of business yet,’ he said. ‘I think I’m going to get more people. All the new businesses around here are going to help me.’

Areiza said most of his customers are currently students and business people, but he anticipates the hotel will bring tourists into his restaurant.

Since its opening last week, Blockbuster has seen a mix of customers, not just area college students, according to the store manager, Jack Seigal.

‘I was actually surprised; I expected all students,’ he said. ‘The majority seems to be a lot of students, but there are other people coming in, too.’

Jeff Lavallee, manager of the Blockbuster located on Harvard Street in Brookline, said the new Kenmore location was chosen, in part, for its easy access from the Kenmore T stop and the foot traffic in the square. He also said he expects a lot of BU students to take advantage of the store’s location.

‘God knows that kids at BU don’t want to take the T to Brookline or go all the way to Mass Ave. to go to the store down there,’ he said.

Although many of the newer businesses setting up shop in Kenmore Square are excited about the changes, the feelings of some long-time residents differ.

Stuart Freedman, owner of Nuggets, a used CD and video store in the Square, said he is glad some new stores are coming, but it will not be the same as it was when he opened his store 24 years ago.

‘It was beautiful before they touched it,’ he said. ‘They should have left it alone.’

Seven-year tenant Richard Franklin, owner of Sugar Daddy’s Smoke Shop, said he is pleased to see the area coming alive, but he is not sure how much it will help his business.

‘I think the whole economy of Boston has been affected by the stock market and 9/11,’ he said.

Lehman, whose store has been in the square for nearly 12 years, does not expect the renovations to have much of an impact on his business.

‘Our business is primarily destination and we don’t really get a lot of walk-by traffic,’ he said.

However, Lehman said he is not pleased with the addition of chain stores to the square.

‘In general, philosophically, I like areas that are individually owned,’ he said. ‘But that’s just bucking the trend.’

Despite the chains, though, he said he’s glad some of the vacancies are being filled because they had not been helping his business.

‘I can’t imagine [business] being any worse,’ he said.