Many towns have been upgrading their old downtown factory areas into a destination place for tourists. They are calling it the Brick City Concept and this is done by taking old factories and industrial areas adjacent the downtown areas, which have been closed and turn them into open places to meet and shop. In Wichita they are going with the old Brick Factory Buildings and also adding a River Walk on the other side too;

http://wichita.bizjournals.com/wichita/sto.../21/story3.html

Bass Pro has always been into the downtown shop type deals, since it is one company that needs to be where Wal-Mart is not. These types of river walks and Brick town concepts work good for them. Here is some information on Wichita and what is going on there;

http://wichita.bizjournals.com/wichita/sto.../21/story3.html

Many people have been specializing in these restoration projects;

http://www.mitchell-lofts.com/pages/Tao.htm

and it originated in Europe to use those old buildings;

http://www.esh.ed.ac.uk/urban_history/text/NevanlinnaM4.pdf

We have all seen old buildings which have been converted to micro brewery or a restaurant, well when it is done together it can be a huge project, but also of huge benefit.

http://www.citypaper.com/current/pf/feature_pf.html

If you go to Alexandria VA and see what they have done with the old torpedo factory, you will not find a better use of a building.

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/pag...es/va/torpedo_1

The brick city concept is making us young again and adding much need life to our heritage and areas left in financial crisis due to old industries dying out and urban flight sending people to suburban middle income cities. I am sure you will agree this is wonderful to see. And every time I travel to a new city and see it, I smile and you would too as we fill up our digital camera with great shots of our great nation.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/