The following is based on a true story. It’s about the fall — and rise — of a downtown located in California’s fifth largest city. The story begins with an alarming deterioration of the historic urban center of the city that was booming in population while shriveling at its core. Right before our eyes, the area our parents and grandparents once saw thriving morphed into an afterthought as struggling businesses became shuttered storefronts turned deserted buildings. The people flocked north, east and anywhere but downtown.
This is a story about Fresno. And in true comeback fashion, the region hopes it will have a happy ending — but there is a long way to go. The good news is several characters, including some who are about to be introduced, are working toward what will one day become the final chapter to this story. For now, this is a story with a yet-to-be-determined conclusion. But it’s a story that needs to be told, and retold, to help spark the movement that will once again make Fresnans proud of their downtown.
