The San Luis Obispo Downtown Association is presenting an exclusive film screening and panel discussion. Urban Century | America’s Return to Main Street is a feature length documentary from Notice Pictures that outlines the decline of American Main Streets and the resurgence that is happening today. On August 10th the Fremont Theatre will open the doors at 6 p.m. for a 7 p.m. show followed by a panel discussion with local community leaders.
The film explores the suburbanization of communities’ post WWII and the resulting detriment caused to once vital urban centers. As time has progressed many cities have seen groups of people choosing to move back into downtowns to reduce commute times, live in culturally diverse neighborhoods and live closer to one another. While big communities like Flint, Michigan have larger scale than San Luis Obispo, many of the same principles translate to our beloved town.
Principles that relate back to adequate work force housing, environmental impacts of development, mixed use projects, economic needs of small business owners and the cultural center that is Main Street America. A case study presented between a retrofitted downtown building and a Walmart illustrates a clear case to invest in downtowns. Film guests can expect to see similar case studies of other communities including Flint, MI; Macon, Georgia and Joplin, MO.
The film is free to the public and is only scheduled for this one exclusive event. The panel discussion following the film will be moderated by Downtown Association executive director, Dominic Tartaglia and will allow guests a chance to ask questions of panelists including local shop owner Aaron Gomez, Dean of Architecture and Environmental Design Christine Theodoropoulos, Assistant City Manager Derek Johnson and architect Mark Rawson. The Downtown Association invites all SLO County residents to attend the event and think about how local Main Streets play a role in everyday life.
For more information and details please visit http://downtownslo.com.