Welcome to my neck of the woods (Post 11)

Contemplate the word "downtown".. if you are like me you are thinking urban, coffee, live music, soulful, mom and pa shops, history, entertainment. Great downtowns belong to Chicago, ILL. Portland, ORE. Burlington, Vt. Nashville, TN. Savannah, GA. and Winston-Salem, NC. ((any of which I would move in a heart beat to)) Not so much Fort Myers, FL. Even though in its prime, was the great stomping ground for some famous people.

We were HERE!! ((River District))

I believe downtown is being revived again as a nation. Once the hob for everything happening in a city.. then lost after generations, there seems to be a needed and wanted pull back to downtowns. This is seen in Fort Myers' and is backed up by a $4 million restoration. Personally, I believe downtown Fort Myers is experiencing a renaissance because it has recognized that community is important. As well as image and economy. By gathering local artists and musicians and local farmers together Fort Myers is helping the local economy and giving it something to believe in.

The River District is FULL of many different kinds of architecture.  Spanish to English to Art deco and modern. From our tour today, I realized how unjointed downtown is. The only common thread is the brick roads.  Those brick roads are accompanied by sidewalks..why is this interesting? Well, have you know that downtown is designed so pedestrians can get anywhere in town with only a ten minute walk. How convenient is that for the environment?.

Downtown is also famous... how so? Well, Edison, Ford and Firestone all live there... in stone form known as a water fountain titled "Uncommon Friends" There were also two movies filmed Downtown Fort Myers. The economy of Fort Myers was once blooming when these all took place. Now it was gone down to almost nothing with vacancy signs everywhere. However, I have high hopes that will soon change and Fort Myers will be alive again. I hope downtown Fort Myers will be able to become sustainable again.  With the help of localization and urbanization I believe it can be done.

Until next time,

Annie