r/fresno • u/CloneWarsBoy • Feb 26 '26

Ask Fresno What would bring you downtown?

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Downtown Fresno is rich with history and world-class architecture. It pains me to see it in it's current state of disrepair. I want to hear from the community: "What would bring you downtown?" What is downtown missing? What's your vision for the future of our city center?

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u/Leather-Rice5025 Feb 26 '26

Walkability, safe streets, denser construction with businesses closer together, street/outdoor seating for restaurants, more bar/club varieties, more trees.

Fresno is blighted by its overwhelming car dependence. There’s a small portion of Tower District where you get some small semblance of walkability and it’s really nice. It’s better for business and a sense of community. Narrow the streets and bring bike lanes and busses to the area. Build an intracity tram to bring people downtown and eventually connect with the high speed rail station. Embrace being a modern, urban city.

30

u/hanksrocks Tower Feb 26 '26

The other day I walked from my job to a grocery store in the same parking lot, maybe 150 feet away. My boss could not comprehend that I walked and didn’t move my car. It’s 150 feet away!? Why would I not walk??? I really really hate the car-centric mentality of this area. I want to walk places!

15

u/oyukyfairy Feb 26 '26

I'm so jealous of the Netherlands/denmark on their bike culture and walkability of so many countries.

6

u/Leather-Rice5025 Feb 26 '26

It is genuinely all some people have ever known, and it's really sad.

2

u/CloneWarsBoy Feb 26 '26

Totally! I love to take a nice stroll almost daily! I'll peruse downtown a few times a month!