Diamond in the rough

When CN&R chose to highlight the revitalization of historic downtown Oroville in our annual Business Issue, we could never have predicted that the region would be in jeopardy of being wiped out by floodwaters from Lake Oroville. The week before the evacuation, we’d spoken with local business people and city representatives who have been working for years to re-energize the area with technology upgrades, new retail shops, restaurants and, at the center of downtown, a spectacularly restored 1930s hotel.

The primary concern regarding the structural issues with portions of the Oroville Dam is making sure that people are out of harm’s way. Uncertainties lie ahead for those who live and work in the flood plain. In the case of downtown in particular, we’re talking about the livelihoods, investments, dreams and visions of thousands of people. We commend everyone who has worked to transform the heart of Oroville into a destination and are hopeful of an outcome that preserves their efforts.