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The Sound of Downtown by Anna Hiatt Downtown Berkeley continues to exist as a viable urban center because of its Arts District. The block of Addison Street just west of Shattuck Avenue is one of the most culturally vibrant areas in the East Bay, and in the evening, it transforms into a bustling hub for theater and music. During the postwar era, as veterans and their new families moved to roomier houses in the suburbs, urban areas began to die. In the late 1960s, the introduction of the Berkeley Repertory Theater helped to revitalize the floundering downtown area. The Arts District took off in the 1990’s when the Aurora Theater was built and the Jazzschool was established. Without a solid arts district, there would be no reason to come downtown. Every product or service we need we can get from suburban malls. The main force that ties many downtown areas together is the arts. Downtown Berkeley may not offer the same shopping opportunities as it once did, but it is coming back to life because of the pulse of the arts.  |
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