When the Lights go down in the City

Journey made this song a hit a number of years ago:

When the lights go down in the city,
and the sun shines on the bay,
do i want to be there,
in my city,
ohoh ohohoh ohoh

So you said your lonely
well my friend i'm lonely too
i want to get back, to my city
by the rain, ohoh ohohoh ohoh

its sad ohh,
theres been morings
out of the world without you,
without your charm
ohohoh nah nah nah ohoh

when the lights go down in the city
and the sun shines on the bay
do i want to be there, in my city oh oh
ohoh ohohoh ohoh

Now it appears to be the theme for the south side of Colborne Street. Not only is the blue fence of death up, but the lights along the south are coming down. City crews have been busy taking them down, after all, no one is going to be walking on that side for quite a while.



As well, the buildings are starting to look even more run down, if that's possible:



On the other hand, as the song contains words of encouragement, of returning to the City, let's hope life does return to downtown Brantford.

To quote Josh Bean of the Brantford Arts Block:

"I've always been a huge advocate of downtown development, whether we have (refurbished) heritage buildings or new buildings," Bean said.

Now that the demolition is imminent, he said he sees his role as doing whatever he can to hold the city accountable for its decision to build anew.

"Whatever we have (coming in) there had better be heritage 50 years from now. If you're going to sacrifice these (old) buildings -which I still disagree with -you had better make it good."