By Rana Kamaly, Community Times When Khedive Ismail came to power in Egypt, he wanted to establish a modern, elegant and vibrant downtown for Cairo that would rival the urban downtowns of Europe. After years of neglect, it seems that both private and government-led initiatives to revive Cairo’s downtown are finally making themselves felt. Modeled after Baron Haussman’s vision of downtown Paris, Khedive Ismail’s downtown epitomized Egypt’s belle epoche. True to Ismail’s vision, it became a multicultural hub and the home of art, culture, fine dining, and fashion in Cairo. Up until the 1950s, the sidewalks provided the cover of leafy trees, and visitors could shop or eat in the district’s many restaurants and coffee shops. Since its inception in the 1860s until it began to decline in the 1950s, downtown was the true heart of the Egyptian capital. Today, its wide thoroughfares, precisely planned intersections and public squares with statues of famous figures sets it apart from other parts of the city, although years of neglect have left it overcrowded and dilapidated. Decay & Restoration After many years of being home to Cairo’s intellectual and creative cosmopolitan community, downtown…
