Downtown!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about revitalization projects and the rebirth of downtown city centers. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting downtown Norman, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City all within the past couple of weeks and, quite honestly, it’s inspiring. I love to see old buildings being put to new uses as co-working spaces, renovated dining and retail facilities, and art galleries. The blend between the older architectural styles and the newer, modern-contemporary design aesthetic is a complete rejection of the architecture of the suburban sprawl. Downtown facilities tend to do more with less space, and this seems to encourage a more personal shopping experience for the consumer.
So why am I on about growing downtown areas? Because it seems to be happening everywhere but Stillwater. Tulsa has seen tremendous growth in its Downtown, Brookside, and Blue Dome Districts. Thanks in large part to MAPS, Oklahoma City has turned Bricktown, Downtown, the Plaza District and 23rd Street into areas that you don’t mind being in after dark. Finally, new businesses seem to be opening every week in Old Norman. On a recent visit there, my cousin showed me where her new photography studio would be located at 123 Main St., in between a brand new McNellie’s tavern and the relocated Guestroom Records.
Stillwater can’t seem to fill up those empty downtown buildings. In the past year, two brand new businesses have opened and one business has relocated to the downtown area. We also had an art gallery come in, but it never seems to be open (even during its posted business hours). If you drive down Main St. in Stillwater, you will see a number of buildings for sale or lease, several thrift stores and a few seldom-open antique shops overrun with junk. Sure, there are a few places downtown that a person like myself would actually want to go. But it will take more than a bar and a coffee shop to get people to come back to the downtown area.
You might wonder why any of this is important, anyway. Well, the status of a city’s downtown district can be very telling of the overall health of the local economy. When downtown is failing, chances are the rest of the city isn’t doing so hot, either. Downtown retailers are more likely to be locally owned and operated, and thus will contribute more to the local economy. Finally, I believe that a flourishing downtown district encourages citizens to shop and work locally.
I believe Stillwater can and should have its own downtown renaissance. I’m not at a point in my life where I can open a business, but I will do my part by shopping downtown as much as possible and encouraging others to do the same. I also plan to provide as much news about downtown businesses as possible on my blog. Hopefully, I’ll be documenting the growth of downtown Stillwater until it’s just as inspiring as other downtowns.
The above image was sourced from Creative Commons.
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