Different Sides of Downtown

My impressions of downtown Provo have always been a collection of glances I got from driving by. I had always thought that it was an adorable area of Provo with its old brick buildings that oozed with a historic aura. By getting out of my car and seeing downtown up close and personal, I was able to see that there are many different sides to downtown Provo. It isn’t all nice, brick buildings like the image I had stored in my mind, but is, in fact, an eclectic collection of old and new, each little piece struggling to stand out in its own unique way.

I first saw the line of buildings that had for so long been my stock image of downtown Provo. Clean, brick buildings, lined up in a neat row. While these buildings are clearly a newer addition to the city, they seem to be built in a way that one would immediately associate them with a historic downtown scene.

However, when I got to the buildings that might actually be a piece of Provo’s beginning, it is not nearly as picturesque. The bricks are crumbling and faded. The words painted and repainted on the building are hardly even legible anymore.

Many of the buildings downtown aren’t even constructed of brick. The modernity of some of the newer buildings creates a strong contrast to the brick. Buildings like these stand strong in the otherwise traditional downtown scene and demand the attention of passersby.

Other businesses downtown set themselves apart not by the physical components of their storefronts, but instead by the paint job. This book store right on Center Street is a gem that I had never noticed before. It is so creatively painted and entices all booklovers to come inside.

While not a building’s façade, this fence still adds to the overall appeal of the small pastry shop it borders. Being among the dozens of small businesses that line Center Street, something has to catch the eye of people walking by and this colorful fence certainly does the job. It is just another example of how each business and building sets itself apart from its surroundings.