Downtown's cloak of obscurity is in danger

Downtown Newark has for many decades been waiting for the world-class recognition she deserves.

For the more than 40 years I've lived here, many people have tried but it has not happened. Downtown Newark lives on in the same obscurity that cloaked her four - and perhaps many more - decades ago.

We've seen new buildings and new face-lifts to old buildings and pretty landscaping and improved traffic flow. We have a world-class theater and world-class sculpture exhibits and a world-class museum. Downtown Newark is not gray now, not by any means. But her innate obscurity, her inability to attract any real interest, lives on.

Jerry McClain's vision for downtown, as presented by an Advocate report today makes really good sense. An Easton-type bridge over the expressway, an Outback-type restaurant at the gateway to downtown, along with some serious visual housecleaning should get the ball rolling.

Good luck to Jerry and others who see the potential for lifting the cloak from downtown Newark so the world may know and experience her.