After spending nearly two hours in a community forum that addressed a wish list for future tax dollar spending — this time focusing on the south side — I found myself paying more attention to the landscape as I drove north from the North Florida Fairgrounds back to the Democrat building on Magnolia Drive.
I had driven past the two shopping centers that stretch between South Adams and South Monroe, past the blocks of closed or abandoned-looking buildings, the stretch of auto-repair businesses, storefront churches and other familiar sites. It was when I reached Gaines Street that I could point out signs of the progress that residents long for in their south-side neighborhoods.