For downtown Fresno to survive and thrive, it must court Gen Z | Opinion

As I entered the period of life after I left high school and began to seriously consider where I wanted my life to go, the skyline of downtown Fresno called my name especially loud; something about the city and its endless opportunities lured me in, like a kid with candy.

I started a career in journalism in 2024, and an assignment to cover a protest brought me downtown soon thereafter. When I was driving, I remember asking myself where everyone was. I saw tall, intricate skyscrapers and beautiful greenery, but no people. There were murals on the walls and an obvious attempt at artistic, big city culture, but everything felt abandoned.

It wasn’t like Los Angeles or San Francisco with their bustling downtowns, but it could be. And the potential has been glaring at us from Highway 41 for years.

In a city’s downtown, especially one that physically looks like a city environment, there should be more to do. The reason that more people don’t hang out in downtown Fresno isn’t because it’s far or it’s expensive — it’s because it’s boring.

Money, money, money

A $100 million state grant was just approved for downtown Fresno’s revitalization. It will be allocated toward new streetlights, water and sewage lines, parking garages and sidewalks. Next year, another $100 million will go toward transportation and other amenities.

In an interview with ABC 30, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said the goal is to bring businesses and people back to downtown.

Fresno has been called derogatory names by residents of bigger cities for decades, but we’re the fifth-largest city in California. Something is seriously off here.

As city leaders attempt to pick downtown Fresno back up from the pits, they should consider their younger audiences. They might be wondering, “What will draw Gen Z in?”

I’ll tell you what will, but first, I’ll ask a question: What is so special about San Francisco and Los Angeles?

Is it the history? Fresno has that. Is it the architecture? We have that, too. Is it the vast business opportunity? For most industries, that checks. Is it the art? There’s an entire event dedicated to it.

There’s one major, major entity missing in Fresno. The, what I call, “perusability” of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

To peruse or to not peruse

I recently visited my cousin in San Francisco, and I had a great time frolicking aimlessly through the streets. I ate great food, browsed a Russian bookstore and visited some iconic landmarks. I left feeling revitalized, and had seen so much in such a small space.

It’s not so easy to frolic like that in Fresno.

The Civic Center and Tower District are what immediately come to mind, but there’s only a few restaurants to choose from there. As a 19-year-old college student, my options are quite limited when it comes to activities in Downtown Fresno. I could walk around the Tower District and go to a store, but I’m trying to quit my shopping addiction. I could walk down Fulton Street for ArtHop, but last time I did that, the general consensus was that it was underwhelming.

We need activity layers: Things for the mind, body and spirit. Not just food and bars, but real and fulfilling endeavors.

It is one of my greatest hopes that the money now being put toward uplifting downtown Fresno actually makes a difference. If I didn’t love journalism so much, I’d go into local politics and actually make sure the project sees itself through, not just for the economy, but for the people.

Once you lose the younger generation, you lose the future.

The Gen Z crowd is here, we’re just waiting for something worthwhile to do.

This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM.