Downtown Clearwater merchants say boom near - 2013-11-09
Downtown Clearwater merchants say boom near November 9, 2013,
Around the lunch hour Thursday, a crowd on the streets was made up of professionals in suits, tourists in T-shirts and members of the Church of Scientology donning uniform slacks and white dress shirts.
They sat outdoors at a scattering of al fresco restaurants and cafes, and many stopped at a series of parking spaces transformed for the day into an impromptu art studio or a lounge where pedestrians could pick up books from the city library and relax on benches.
It was the city's latest effort to bring a spark of whimsy and creative activity to a city center that has all the makings of a vibrant downtown — the tree-lined sidewalks and medians, the mix of offices, shops and restaurants — but appears empty and lifeless at times during the day.