In today’s Fresno Bee, George Hostetter explored the existing light industrial businesses that inhabit what he calls a “forgotten part of downtown“.

Explore the neighborhood here:

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For those of us that frequent Art Hop we know this area well because of Kliszewski Glass, and Chris Sorensen’s Studio. And we know how the road is deteriorating and can evoke the setting of the Paper Street Soap Company in Fight Club. You may also know that the City of Fresno PARCs department has a skate park in the works for this area and will be accompanied by a retail/commercial building developed by Steve Weil. With all that in mind, here is a quote from the article:

Scharton acknowledges that the area has sometimes been overlooked. But, he adds, “a little attention in those kinds of areas can yield huge results.”

The South Van Ness Industrial Area may be on the verge of acquiring a certain consumer cachet. City officials say some large cities — such as Portland with its Pearl District — have helped transform light-industry areas into dynamic mixed-use neighborhoods.

Manufacturing, distribution, wholesale and retail by day; restaurants, artist studios, entertainment by night. Then toss in some residential.

City Manager Andy Souza calls the South Van Ness Industrial Area a potential “spark that continues the rebirth of our downtown.”

This sparks my imagination and I want to offer up some questions: Do you see this area transforming into something like Portland’s Pearl District? How long would that take? What are some first steps? What would make this district unique from the Cultural Arts District? Being outside the freeway triangle, do you count this as part of downtown? And maybe some neighborhood branding fun: George suggests “South Downtown? SoVan? The blue collar district?” what do you think?