Readers of my last blog emailed me their wish/needs lists toward infusing personality into downtown Fresno.

From Jim Cole:

• A pro sports team. There are many smaller cities with pro teams. Take Green Bay (pop.100,353). Please.
• An airport. (FAT does not count.)
• A theater district. (In fact, I am willing to accept anything of a cultural nature since we're starting from near zero.)
• A night life. (Jazz club, a House of Blues would be nice, comedy club, any type of restaurant with live music and dancing.)

 From Millie Tang:

• Parking!

From Jack Buchanan:

• I think Community Medical Centers could also help influence downtown's revitalization efforts and further our mission/vision of being a world-class organization. I lived in Augusta, Georgia, and worked an University Health from 1980-2000. UH was once of the first hospitals in America to implement a full-service wellness center that provided employee discounted membership and was also open to the public.... with registered dietitians, physical therapists and *only* certified trainers and fitness instructors on staff, UH was immediately competitive to the fitness clubs and gyms in the area. UH opened Health Central in the old YMCA building downtown to cater to the downtown businessmen, law firms, etc. during lunch and before they left downtown to go home.  Its strategy has paid off and could work here!

From Kathy Riedel:

• Affordable parking close to venue.

• A grocery store, flower shop, bakery, a nice book store, a cool newsstand for a paper or magazine, maybe a pet store, reasons to shop down there.

• Downtown needs to be something you can use on a regular basis, not just for a special event.  Somewhere you can enjoy walking around with a more airy feel, places to sit down as you walk.  I can't get around like I wish I could but would like it if there were nice benches and trees, more ambiance with lighting, color, water features. These are not the surefire answers, but it would start the ball rolling.  

I'll post more responses down the road. Anybody want to offer thoughts on what CLOVIS needs?