The people of Odessa are wanting their downtown to be a place for the whole family to go and enjoy everything from shopping to entertainment.

According to NewsWest 9, the revitalization of downtown will help bring people back downtown for the first time in 40 or more years.

The residents have let their voice be heard and they say they want more entertainment, restaurants, and retail downtown.

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"It won't come back as the way it used to be back maybe in the 50s and 60s where we had big box stores downtown. What we're hoping for is more of boutiques," said Mark Matta, Odessa City Councilman for District One.

With the smaller boutiques the city is hoping for, that will combine well with the entertainment and restaurants that are also planned.

The city can now plan the layout for the new downtown and have it all laid out for developers.

"That's going to get more attention from the developers, seeing what we have planned for downtown," Matta said.

Development is beginning but it is going to be a slow process.

"Some construction just started yesterday on Icon tavern and so we're seeing movement. It's starting slow, but I would guarantee it once we start getting going and we start putting in some key components, they'll be here," said Odessa Mayor Javier Joven.

With a goal set and the community coming together, great things are on the horizon.

"Keep them here, let's give them something to do, let's give them stuff to do that the kids want to do also. Let's keep that money in here, let's keep it local, so we can spur the economy," Matta said.

 

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