Original sentence: As the 21st century began, this area became the de facto commercial center of the city providing great economic benefits.The downtown suffered one of its biggest changes when Wal-Mart corporation built one of its giant retail stores at the intersection of East Floral Avenue and the freeway—at the northwest edge of town.The old downtown, despite vacant storefronts, remained a struggling but viable district of city offices and small businesses
Edited sentence: As the 21st century began, this area became the de facto commercial center of the city.The downtown suffered its most severe blow when Wal-Mart corporation built one of its giant retail stores at the intersection of East Floral Avenue and the freeway—at the northwest edge of town.The old downtown, despite vacant storefronts, remained a struggling but viable  district of city offices and small businesses