When that rare weekend hits that we have time as a couple, my wife and I head out to rediscover the small cities in our area. This was how we discovered “Cat Alley”, and how we happened upon a town that I had “hung my hat” in for a while in the 60’s. It’s an interesting time to be doing this. I think that the death knell of the mall is having a reviving effect on our small cities. Downtowns that were hollowed out are returning to life in some places. The flight from urban cores has slowed or reversed. And it’s made some architecturally lovely places lively again.
It’s important to recall that, not too many years ago, the mall was the thing, and the downtown just seemed to be waiting to be bulldozed. Thank God that lots of our communities recognized before it was too late that the urban core was heritage, history. and many times an architectural treasure.
In some places where the bulldozer won out, the replacements were uninspired concrete slabs of Brutalism. They often wound up housing city departments and not-for-profits in need of cheap quarters. They were not the mechanisms or urban renewal as promised.
So our ongoing rediscovery of our urban New England landscape is a journey into our area’s history and developing present. From jazz clubs, jive on street corners, to staid urban pedestrian malls. Cozy cafes and retail business it’s all come alive again.
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And great photos, Lou!
thanks!
I am thrilled to look on as the shopping mall breathes it’s last. I loved this post.
Thank you. And I agree shopping malls basically ate local community, and were a literally a blot on the landscape.
It feels so good to be in a community that seems to be thriving and/or growing. I’m glad you had this experience in a place you recall from your early life.
wonderful images
Thanks!
You are so right about this. The malls were a good idea at one time, but being outdoors is a healthier choice not to mention all the nostalgia missed.