Small Is Big: Jump-Starting Small-City Downtowns for the New Economy

Michael von Hausen will examine some of the key ingredients necessary to revitalize the downtowns of small cities and towns for resilience and the new economy. Using his four building blocks and comprehensive downtown health assessment tool, Michael will provide strategies that move beyond “cosmetic” design fixes. Michael will first describe his approach and the results of his research. He will then use case studies and jump-start ideas to illustrate the potential advantages that small city downtowns may have as proactive responders to emerging demographic demands and associated place-first priorities. The intent of the presentation is to provide a more multi-dimensional approach to future planning of downtowns, engage in an interactive dialogue, and provide insightful ideas for declining downtowns in small cities and towns across North America.