Our Town
- wallacejnichols
- Feb. 26, 2006
I shared a perfect lunch at our friends Greg and Dominique’s place. On a cliff looking over the Pacific Ocean. A gathering of people to share local food, ideas, current work and future dreams. We chatted a lot about our town, Davenport. I learned more about growing organic strawberries on the coast. “Authenticity” was discussed. We pondered the fact that our town is the halfway point of a walk along the coast from Oregon to Mexico
Our town is in the middle of some changes. They may not seem major to someone living in a bigger town or in New York City. But for a town of 200 people, the changes are transformative.
The cement plant was bought by CEMEX, the Mexican giant. The Cash Store restaurant is being renovated. Next door an attractive new building has popped up...art studio they say. The taqueria closed and is being renovated, to be reborn as ??? The surrounding coastlands and farms have become the responsibility of State Parks and BLM. There’s talk of a rails to trails project that could link Davenport to Santa Cruz with a bike/hike trail. And the building my office is in, the old Odwalla Juice factory (and prior to that a brussel sprouts packing shed), will be the site of some sort of experiment in sustainable design to promote local farming and fishing. Some homes and businesses are for sale and some people who have been here for a long time are moving out. The Pacific School is wonderful, as usual.
These are exciting times and for some who fear change, worrisome times. I call Davenport “my town” but I’ve lived here for only five years. I’ve chosen to live here. Some of my neighbors were born here and have stayed.
What’s clear is that our little town is evolving.
I like evolution.
