The rebirth of the Rex is important because a great downtown is more than one street.

A great downtown has a mix of types of retail and commercial businesses. It is walkable, clean, well-lit and safe. It has a mix of residences -- from homes to condos to apartments and lofts -- so that people of different stripes can mingle together. It is a gathering place for big events and should reflect the soul of its community.

Palafox needs to be more than south of Garden Street because Palafox -- and by extension Pensacola -- needs to be a place for more than a good time.