I have lived in various parts of Orange County virually all my life. I have seen the mass urban sprawl or cookie cutter houses, condos and apartments. I have seen the endless amount of strip malls, each one looking like another one. Miles and miles of areas that can be picked up and put in another town, another state and fit in.
But Downtowns are only made once. I am new to Bakersfield and one of the first thing I really liked is that you have a very nice downtown area with incredible untapped potential. But I have seen other downtowns with incredible potential be destroyed by the wrecking ball, never to seen again. In their place now are strip malls and xeroxed neighborhoods.
I just hope that the residents of Bakersfield realize before it is too late that you have a wonderful downtown that needs your support. Cities with a strong downtown have a "soul" in a way that miles and miles of strip malls can not replace.
I have seen too many beautiful old structures be torn down because of their uniqueness, because they were from a different time. A time that will never come again. I hope the people here will drive by and appreciate the unique qualitys of downtown, and I hope you will support the merchants that believe in what a downtown can offer.
When a downtown is gone it will just be pictures on a wall. Downtowns are only built one time.