Since the Fullerton Museum is near the center of town, I was interested as we drove away to see a building several stories high occupying most of a large block. This building is called the Wilshire Promenade. It is beautifully landscaped, artistically designed and would be an asset to any downtown. What was unusual was that it was a parking garage with apartments above and businesses along the street, all design integrated into one structure, which even includes a small grocery store at one corner. The street level parking behind the stores is for public use while the below-ground parking level is gated and reserved for residents. The block is bounded by Wilshire, Malden, Whiting, and is one block west of Harbor Blvd. The reason I am giving directions is because I encourage you to drive out there and see what is possible. The 91 freeway offramp is Harbor Blvd./Fullerton (north). By the way, the original Mimi’s Cafe is not far away, so you will feel right at home.
It shows what can be done when there is an openness to new ideas, a willingness on the part of city people to be creative, to stop saying all the things that can not be done and start looking at all the things that can be done. This was brought home to me when I heard about an argument that took place over a backyard fence by two well known people in Downey. One of them was maintaining that people can’t live downtown and the other saying they have done it in other places. Fullerton is doing it now. Someone was telling me recently why they thought Downey was as safe a city to live in as it is. They felt that after about nine or ten o’clock at night there is just not any reason for non-residents to come into town and that equates to less potential crime. However, we do need more people in downtown and it would seem daytime when the stores and other businesses are open is the most beneficial time to have people in Downey. At least that seemed to be Norwalk’s thinking. They had a couple of big empty buildings and through a co-operative effort with the leasing agents, very substantive tenants were found. This will mean hundreds of new jobs for downtown Norwalk and at least a thousand visitors a day during the daytime who, for the most part, will be gone by nightfall. Many of these people are going to have lunch, may have dinner and will shop at least occasionally, benefiting existing businesses and encouraging new ones. All during the daytime when it is the safest for everyone.