Fresno’s Two Worlds

I did something this bright and beautiful Saturday that I bet you didn’t do: I spent time in both downtown Fresno and “up north” — in and around  Fig Garden Village.

Only about five miles separate downtown from Fig Garden, but they might as well be galaxies apart.

When I walked through downtown late Saturday morning, I was nearly alone. Downtown was almost deserted, except for a few old men riding bicycles and except for the homeless who either were sitting on benches or lying on sidewalks. It was an eerie and slightly uncomfortable feeling, walking by myself and looking around to make sure I really was “alone.”

Downtown was dismal on this Saturday morning.  There’s no other way to put it.

Two hours later, I was having lunch at one of the “upscale” eateries at Fig Garden Village. And I was not alone. Fig Garden’s parking lot was jammed, and all those vehicles had transported all those people to all those high-end shops and restaurants.

After lunch, I walked around the shopping center — which everyone around these parts knows is Fresno’s finest — and saw that every restaurant’s patio was full of people, enjoying their leisurely Saturday,  lapping up  the best atmosphere this city has to offer.

Then I kept walking — north on Palm past Bullard High, then east on Browning and south on Ferger. That’s one of the city’s finest neighborhoods, with sprawling ranch-style homes, incredibly big front lawns and new cars on almost every driveway.

Fresno at its best.

And as I was taking my “upscale” walk — a question popped into my head: What in the world would cause anyone living in this neighborhood — or any of the people I saw eating outside in Fig Garden’s wonderful restaurants — or any of the people shopping in Fig Garden’s tony outlets —  what would prompt them to go downtown on this Saturday afternoon — or any other afternoon?

The answer is — nothing — unless their jobs “forced” them to spend some time downtown.  After all, lawyers and judges have to go to the various courthouses, and sheriff’s deputies and police officers have their headquarters there.  But once those worthies finish their daily chores, virtually all of them skedaddle north.

And, yes, during a few months of each year, a few thousand people motor down to see our Triple-A baseball team play — but again, the vast majority of those fans drive in, see the game, and drive north afterward, without spending any other time — or any other money — downtown.

My point is this:  Downtown simply offers nothing, or nearly nothing, for those folks who were enjoying an outdoor meal  or shopping on this Saturday at Fig Garden.  No upscale stores.  No “must-dine-at” eateries.  No recreation to speak of.

For downtown to be “reborn,” it takes more than a “new” Fulton Street or those lofts and apartments that are, undeniably, a welcome addition to the area.  For downtown to be “reborn,” it must become a “destination” that people in north Fresno — the “money” area — want to spend time and, yes, dollars in.

How does that happen?  I have no idea.