CARBONDALE -- The city of Carbondale is now a full year into its largest downtown revitalization in decades.
Pioneer Plaza -- the hotel, retail, and condo combo on Main Street in Carbondale -- is something longtime residents of the city say they never could have dreamed of.
"Never, never dreamed of having this because this was not even an conception at the time," said Monica Gravine.
Gravine has lived in the Pioneer City for almost 40 years, and a few months ago did something she thought she'd never do: move to downtown. She and her husband are now Pioneer Plaza residents.
"I think businesses are thriving more and more and it gives us an opportunity, my husband and I. We're both retired and now we get to enjoy the walks through the park and through the town and meet a lot of different people every day."
The plaza's hotel has seen significant growth in its first full year. Managers say Christmas business doubled.
One of the last remaining pieces of the Pioneer Plaza puzzle is the empty storefronts, but managers for the property say a photographer and a barbershop will be moving in sometime in the new year.
"In the last decade or so, a lot of the small town businesses have gone away and things like that. So it's added foot traffic which is good for our business. Weekends, holidays, skiers, things like that," said Robert McDonnell.
McDonnell says Pioneer Plaza has revived downtown Carbondale and helped his business -- Mcdonnell's Restaurant -- which has been on Main Street for close to 50 years.
"People come up here, maybe to come up for a wedding or for an event, and they see the area shops or different restaurants. We're definitely seeing some increased revenues in other areas as well," said Andrea Rosenbaum.
It's the ripple effect one revitalized block can have.