On my way back towards South Park from Union Station (dropping off a visiting family member) I took San Pedro southward. I was very impressed by how well lit and colorful the street has become compared to the grimy dinginess of perhaps a year or so ago. Many of the older buildings south of 7th have now been cleaned up and flower stores are where there were once vacant and/or ugly nondescript businesses/store fronts, which appears to be spillover from the flower market and related shops a block or so to the west. Seemingly, this area is evolving into a distinct district unto itself and transitions pretty much seamlessly into the fashion district with new store fronts and upgraded lighting of it's own. These kinds of changes speak softer, but no less forcefully than do those of the highrise apartment/ condo towers and entertainment venues to the southwest, IMHO, of the renaissance here. I just hope some of the forward momentum can be maintained in the uncertain economic times ahead.
Dropped into Ralph's before heading home and I'm never unimpressed by the number of customers at 9PM on a Sunday evening, a rainy one to boot. The place is nearly always jumpin'.
Good news above about Broadway! I would love to see a real, honest-to-goodness trolley installed down the center of that street (and not some cheap dressed up rubber-tired bus!) The trolley is no reason to close it off to cars (just calm the flow!), which I'd feel would reduce the energy and urban feel of that stretch. The thought of restoring/converting the upper floors of the numerous, but until now untouched, though no less amazing buildings on Broadway and bringing in more residents there is better than that of a few highrise projects breaking ground this year to me.
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Nice!!!
Last edited by ladowntowner; Jan 28, 2008 at 7:09 AM.
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