Santa Pays a Visit to Gladys Park

By Ed Fuentes — December 22, 2008

Ed Fuentes

|Photo Gallery| A svelte Santa paid a visit to Gladys Park on Friday, landing for a Department of Recreation & Parks toy giveaway. "I have 360 days a year to work out," the smilin' Santa told blogdowntown.

Attendance at the event was light, but those on-hand didn't seem to care. They got the chance to visit Santa, see some small animals up close and bang on trash cans with an urban percussion group. All fit the park’s mission of giving kids who live in and near Skid Row a little bit of sanctuary. — Continued Inside...

Touring Downtown WIFI: Lost Souls

By Ed Fuentes — December 21, 2008 — 2 Comments

Ed Fuentes

On a recent visit to Lost Souls, scouting details for this story, Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” played right after Earth Wind and Fire’s “Let’s Groove.” It's an old-school coffee shop, and it's been serving up coffee and WIFI for ages.

That’s in Old Bank District years, of course. The Harlem Alley hideaway will have its third anniversary on January 8, 2009 and plans are being made to celebrate the occasion later in the month. — Continued Inside...

Fashion District BID Gets Renewed, But Not Yet Finished With the Process

By Eric Richardson — December 19, 2008 — 1 Comment

Eric Richardson

It's no easy task to keep happy the stakeholders of a large Business Improvement District. The Fashion District BID, second largest in Downtown, spent all of 2008 gathering property-owner support for its renewal. At times, any sort of a renewal seemed doubtful.

On Wednesday, City Council gave its final stamp of approval to a new Fashion District BID that covers approximately 75% of the existing BID's total area. A second district, intended to be seamlessly operated with the first once it gets approved, is still in the petition process. — Continued Inside...

Council Expands Artists-In-Residence Zone

By Eric Richardson — December 19, 2008 — 2 Comments

Eric Richardson

The Arts District got a little bit bigger this week, as City Council approved an expansion of neighborhood's official boundaries. The expansion south from 6th to Violet, a small street one block south of 7th, makes it easier for developers to turn industrial buildings into housing for artists and artisans. — Continued Inside...

Halfway Through Pilot Phase, Central City East DASH Lacking Riders

By Eric Richardson — December 18, 2008 — 11 Comments

Ed Fuentes

Service on the Central City East DASH kicked off in September, with officials touting the route as filling a hole on Downtown's east side. The six-month pilot program was made possible when a bus was freed up by the elimination of the City Hall Shuttle.

Three months later, ridership has yet to materialize. The route is currently averaging only six passengers per hour. Boosters are hoping that increased awareness of what's along the route will bring more riders in the new year. — Continued Inside...