>>> many north texans don't know arlington has a downtown, butdo ut that is changing. the area between ut arlington and cowboys stadium has a brand new feel. new at 5:00, we have the story. >> there are a lot of people i on downtown arlington as opposed to the way it used to be. >> reporter: some >>people are running to downtown trying to find an empty seat fromro restaurants and retail to cultural and entertainment activities, esarlington's downtown is looking up. >>he overall goal g for downtown arlington is t on o create aatn environment at's vilive, work and play. >> reporter: work andep play have come first with w $10$1 millionon in privn ate in vestme nt and eight new restaurants and bars. rs whether it's i renovating ang existing building oror starting from scratch, more and more businesses seem to beee opting for downtown arlington. >> i see a huge potential. we've had awe good month so thfar. it's our first month. i just see a lot of growth. there's a lot of stuff going. we have a barav coming in right here. empty building right there. >> reporter: fuelling that growth says arlington mayor, is growth at turks uta from development at thede nearby campus to a growing student population that needs to bee entertained. >> we have 33,000 customers right across thes way t here on the edge of downtown. uta is helping provide tt growth pattern. tt>> reporter: i wou>>ld like to point to the pavilion. onwe call itl the gel of downtown.wn that's's attracted a lot of interest in development particularly inrt restaurants. >> reporter: the>> horop is t ihat that growi ng interest overshadows the long standing g idea that there is no downtown wn in arlington. >> there's a good recognition that arlington has a downtown. it's startling to become vie bryant. overcome -- vibrant. overcoming that feeling that we w can't change it has been a struggle. we've made great progress. >> they have. still trying to attract new businesses to downtown, officials say the next step will be developing residential areas in the downtown area. >>>