Wynwood, an artsy district once plagued with creative entrepreneurs & hipsters quickly became plagued with an exotic illness, after 15 cases of the Zika Virus have been reported.

Leading Wynwood real estate developer, David Lombardi, took to Facebook today asking residents to #SupportWynwood now that the travel warning has been lifted from the hip, Miami neighborhood.

Dear Friends:

As most of you know I very rarely if ever post anything on Facebook, but at this time I felt it most important. As you all know I have spent the last 16 years working towards the development of the Wynwood Arts District into a vibrant, international destination of art and culture, along with dozens of other creative entrepreneurs. Unfortunately at this moment, the Wynwood businesses are fighting for their very survival. We have had a tremendous avalanche of negative media due to the Zika virus and business has dropped off by as much as 75%.

My ask is a simple one. I ask that in the next days and weeks ahead when you think about going out to eat, or going out for a drink, or shopping for clothing or sunglasses, or going to a movie, that you please consider coming to one of Wynwood’s many businesses. We have award winning restaurants, brewers, bakers; we have incredibly talented retailers who are not backed by multi-national companies. These are young men and women who have put everything on the line to open a business with the greatest entrepreneurial spirit and they deserve and need your business more than ever at this critical time.

Also please share this message on your own Facebook pages and help keep Wynwood alive and thriving because a Miami without a Wynwood is like a body without a soul.

Thank you very much,

DL