Historic Downtown Torrance has had it’s share of troubles becoming all that it can be.
I don’t know if anyone has proposed it yet, but why not have a completely CAR FREE downtown? Or maybe a car free street, say Sartori.
This may not be as far fetched as it sounds. We’re at a place in time where people are searching for something different. Look at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, I don’t think going CAR FREE has hurt business there. Look at all the very popular farmers markets, business seems to be thriving at these as well. I don’t believe it’s what their selling, you can get the same products or produce anywhere, people like them because they’re scaled for people. People like to stroll and shop and look at other people, it makes us feel alive and connected. Cars are only a distraction and a danger to this sort of living.
Most people around here, myself included, have never had a place like this. We’ve been brought up dependent on automobiles and that way of life is all we know, but as oil prices rise and traffic gets worse I find myself longing for places like Venice, or some other car free place, they just seem more human.
Let’s envision places where toddlers don’t need leashes, where young and old mingle and chat safely, places where we can truly relax. Historic Old Torrance could be one of the first of these places in the South Bay.
If you like or don’t like this idea, hit the comments button at the top of this post and start a discussion.
illustration by QuickHoney
