The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Keeping up the momentum with #LorainPride
The results of the recent Lorain Better Block event and other projects around the city were shared June 7 at the #LorainProud general meeting.
About 36 community members gathered on the second floor of the Lorain Historical Society Carnegie Center, 329 W. 10th St., for the two-hour meeting, according to organizer Bart Gonzalez.
The meeting featured discussion of the Lorain Better Block Final Report, which showed that an estimated 700 people attended the May 19 event which sought to engage the residents of the city and highlight what it could be.
According to a survey taken at the event about what kind of businesses people would like to see downtown, the top replies were restaurants and bars, clothing and grocery stores.
In the June 7 meeting, Gonzalez said the focus was giving a view of the charrette process in 2017 and how it led to various events, like Lorain Better Block, which was highlighted.
“It started out with an idea and a concept as an activity that we can showcase our city,” Gonzalez said.
Better Block was unique in that it showed the willingness of the youth of the city to engage with their community, he said.
“It was amaz-ing how we were able toh i g h light our students and the kids in our city that really have always wanted buyin, but never had the opportunity,” Gonzalez said.
The talk now is about continuing the momentum of Better Block with other pieces to the community puzzle such as adding signage in downtown, he said.
“There are two signs in downtown Lorain that say ‘Smile, you’re on camera’ just to show the safety aspect that it’s more a rumor (that downtown is dangerous) than it is fact,” Gonzalez said. “We are actually one of the safer cities and we don’t even realize it.”
“It started out with an idea and a concept as an activity that we can showcase our city.”
— Bart Gonzalez