Maybe the best way to move forward with El Centro’s downtown area is just to start over in some places. “There has to be a willingness by property owners to scrap their current buildings,” El Centro Planning Commissioner Jason Jackson said, “because they’ll find that it’ll be cheaper to demolish and build three or four-story buildings.”

It was an idea that was kicked around Wednesday morning during the final session of the Support Historic Apportionment Photorealistic Efforts workshop in El Centro. The idea would be to transform downtown buildings now in place into mixed-use establishments; turning a potential three- or four-story building into one that could be used for dining, business and living. Concepts gathered by John Fregonese, whose Portland, Ore.-based company was contracted to lead downtown revitalization efforts, will be conceptualized and brought back to locals in June. Part of that process will be conceptualizing the old Masonic Temple on State Street.

“I think we have an opportunity to start to drive new concepts for downtown,” El Centro Mayor Rosanna Bayon Moore said. “Everyone agrees it’s a beautiful place and an area with merchants, who I think are willing to give their energy and give their best effort toward revitalization.”

Even though efforts are being made to modernize downtown, El Centro Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Cathy Kennerson said it is important to utilize what now stands in the area. “We don’t want downtown to be forgotten,” she said. “This is where businesses got started in El Centro.” She also said it would be vital to “bring in a large employer” to serve as a cornerstone for downtown business. “What we need for the downtown and to continue moving forward,” Kennerson said, “is something that’s not available anywhere else in the Valley.”