Hope springs eternal at Auburn City Hall, or at least it seems that way judging by the anticipated benefits of Auburn’s new downtown promenade.

The decoratively paved street just begs for business to spring up alongside it. Benches on which shoppers can rest have been strategically and plentifully placed. Lush petunias dangle from the new sleek, black street lights recently installed. Young saplings are planted in metal grate-covered holes left in the sidewalk. Underground, new water, storm drain and sewer lines await. Ready for business.

Mac and Scooter – my dashing Dachshund/Beagle brothers – and I walk downtown every day. They love to peek into the Comstock bookstore window on the chance of seeing one of the lovely cats that make their home there. They enjoy the attention they get from Lisa, the sidewalk hot dog vendor, and the smokers outside the Home Plate Pub.

Their favorite downtown spot, however, is Auburn Station. It seems rabbits inhabit the grassy and bushy areas, and they feel rabbits are fair game wherever they live. If only they could catch one.

But Mac and Scooter don’t know what to make of the new promenade. They look for grassy, tree-shaded areas, where I could sit while they cool their busy feet, sniff for rabbits, or take care of other necessities. However, the new city park is all brick and concrete, not a blade of grass to be enjoyed. Mac and Scooter look for people to greet on the promenade, but it is all but deserted, just as is much of Main Street.

Main Street, sadly, is still littered with empty storefronts, though some are decorated with fascinating art by Julia Haack or paper dresses by Josie Davis of Argentina. (See storefrontsauburn.com for more information and pictures.)

The long-established hobby shop has now closed (a physical training establishment is in the process of remodeling the space), the bike shop has left, and many other empty stores stare vacantly out at the quiet sidewalks.

Across from the City Hall sits an empty lot and an abandoned and crumbling furniture outlet building, once condemned, but now magically for lease or sale. Not exactly eye candy. A sign installed by the City of Auburn (“more than you imagined”) places the blame for the eyesore on a banker in Lynnwood. A prime space remains empty at the bottom of the One Main Street Building. I personally could envision a busy Bartells or independent drugstore flourishing there.

But hope springs eternal at City Hall. Mayor Lewis has said that he is “dealing with developers every day. We really have them coming in … whole bunches of them.”

Actually, in spite of Pete’s hyperbole, I am hopeful. I can’t wait for Auburn to become “more than (I) imagined,” because it seems so ready for an “Auburn spring.” Art shows, wine tastings, Auburn Days, veterans parades all help, but most days, downtown Auburn just seems lonely and sad.

Auburn resident John Pinsker is a retired public high school English teacher.