Downtown - We'd better 'hop' to it

As a longtime downtown resident, I’m gratified by the new surge in enthusiasm for the city’s core evidenced by Saturday night’s Downtown Hoparound. If you weren’t among the thousands who came down to sample downtown’s top attractions on a perfect April evening, you really missed something.

From the city’s oldest gathering spot – the historic tavern Arnold’s on Eighth Street – to its newest – the night club Bang on West Fourth Street, which had its grand opening Saturday – places were jammed all evening with local celebs and “ordinary” folks mingling and enjoying a variety of musical acts. Others strolled the streets taking in the warm spring air, or sat on Fountain Square checking out the flower display.

Add to that a Reds game and a show at the Aronoff, and downtown truly was hopping – with or without the frog leg specials at several restaurants. It really makes you wonder why it has taken so long for area residents to catch on to what visitors often seem to think is a pretty neat downtown.

And yet … Downtown needs a lot more than busy Saturday nights in bars, restaurants and night clubs to thrive long-term, especially as a real “neighborhood.” That was the point of our Sunday Forum special by Tony Lang, “Downtown dream schemes,” which took a close look at the current downtown housing boom --­ and what experts and residents say needs to happen next. Top on many folks' list seem to be mid-price condos, transportation access (including streetcars), a movie theater and a supermarket.

I’m a great believer in the market’s ability to respond to the growing demand and create a win-win situation for residents, visitors and businesses. After literally decades of downtown fits and starts and missteps, I hope I’m not proven wrong.

But as Sunday’s story noted, there’s a limited “window of opportunity” to make this happen, especially to attract young professionals to live, work and play downtown. Better not fritter it away.