Blog entry #11

Blog Entry #11: What kinds of emotions does the word “downtown” evoke? How has their stature in communities changed over time? Why is downtown Ft. Myers experiencing something of a renaissance? What are some of the prominent architectural features? How (and why) are they designed to rekindle the “pedestrian” spirit? Discuss some other “nods to history” that we saw on our tour. How has the economy of Ft. Myers evolved from past to present? How does all of this relate to sustainability?

Dowtown to me can bring two different emotions. When i think of smaller cities, like fort myers, downtown is gross. Its usually where the poor, crackheads live. Its not maintained very well, and full of broke down, abandoned buildings. However, when i think of downtown in big cities, like Chicago, i think of art, music, skyscrapers, museums, trains, the pier. Downtown chicago is gorgeous and full of culture. Downtown fort myers, ugly and broke down. However, downtown fort myers "river district" is trying to revive the city and bring some life back into it. They have art walk, and music walk every month, and are working on fixing up some of the roads and whatnot. It is pedestrian friendly, but not like Chicago. When i walk through chicago i feel safe and like i can be myself and have a great day. When i walk through downtown fort myers, im scared, i feel like some crackhead is gonna bust out of an alley and attack me. Fort myers used to be full of great minds like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, now.... not so much. We have been hit so bad by the recession that theyre are so many homeless, and jobless people who dont really care anymore about trying to do anything with their lives. The history of fort myers was so ambitious and insightful and now its this big dump.