Downtown Ocala Commercial Historic District is more than just the geographic center of the city.  Its business buildings and social squares are also central to  the city's history, symbols of community pride and potential.

The historic downtown commercial district has been revitalized during the past several years with renovations to the local square, and the beautification of historic buildings surrounding it.  The Ocala Downtown Development Commission and a coalition of citizens, property owners, and public officials are working steadily to continue the economic revitalization of downtown.

October 2006 saw the ground-breaking of the $97M Master Plan for Downtown Ocala redevelopment, which includes $24 million budgeted for phase one of "City Shops and Walk" - a two-story, 40,000 square foot retail and restaurant plaza with open-air walkways.

The Marion Film and Visual Arts Foundation is bringing back the nostalgic cinematic and theatre experience through the restoration and revitalization of the Marion Theatre, preserving one of Ocala's treasures and finest Historical Landmarks, as a state-of-the-art venue for film and performing arts offering diverse entertainment for people of all ages.

The Master Plan budgets $12 million for the renovation of the Chamber of Commerce site's three stories and 50,000 square feet of office and retail space, as well as budget funds for construction on the old Ocala Public Library site of a 400-450 space, $9.3 million parking garage with a brick facade and about 16,000 square feet of first floor retail and office space

Along with the Chamber of Commerce, Ocala Public Library, the Discovery Science Center (for children of all ages), a variety of large and small restaurants, the Marion Cultural Alliance and Brick City Center for the Art, shops, financial institutions, and commercial businesses are located around the downtown square or within a short walk.  The center of Ocala, lively during the day with business,  shopping and special events, springs to life again in the evening with a number of restaurants, clubs, theatre and other entertainment bringing people back downtown.

"Downtown, where all the lights are bright..."

Links of interest (these will open in a new window):

City of Ocala - Downtown Ocala Historic District

The Historic Marion Theatre