A thriving downtown business district has been the figurative and literal heart of most towns across America for decades, pumping life into the community.

We, as a society, may have lost sight of that a bit somewhere along the way as concepts like urban renewal and suburban sprawl have worked their way into our culture.

The communities here in my new home of southwest Michigan seem to understand the importance of their downtowns and look to be poised to recapture some of those glory days.

Niles has a unique collection of boutiques, retail opportunities, restaurants and historic buildings.

Dowagiac has its own niche, where the emphasis is quality over quantity when it comes to “wining and dining,” so to speak. With a movie theater coming soon to a renovated building there, it looks like more great things are to come.

Cassopolis, Edwardsburg and Buchanan all have something to offer. That doesn’t even take into account South Bend and the communities along Lake Michigan.

It is human nature that, far too often, we take for granted the region that we call home. I have an outsider’s perspective here and think southwest Michigan resident have much of which they can be proud.

Across America we are seeing shopping centers and outdoor malls that try to create the feel of being downtown, but there is no reason to settle for a facsimile when the authentic experience can still be found right here on our streets.

That is something Niles City Council should think about very carefully as these elected leaders consider the fate of the historic Gallery building that has been an integral part of Niles’ downtown since the 1800s.

There has been much discussion about whether or not to renovate the structure or take some other approach. A recent suggestion was to turn it into a parking lot.

I know I haven’t been here long, but parking hasn’t been much of a problem so far.

It is understandable that the council wants more information about what the overall cost would be and whether or not the city would get a return on its investment.

Citizens should be encouraged that the council is performing its due diligence and striving to be good stewards’ of the taxpayers’ money. But it is also vital that the leaders remember that history and heritage can never be reclaimed once it is gone.

Re-energizing Niles’ business district won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight. It also won’t happen without a strong commitment and measured investment.

Restoring the Gallery Building would be the equivalent of bypass surgery that helps keep a heart beating strong.

 

Michael Caldwell is publisher/president of Leader Publications LLC. He can be reached at (269) 687-7700 or by email at mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.