Small is Big: Making the Next Great Small to Mid-Size Downtowns (2019)
204 pages.
This is a small book with big ideas. It is a primer of ideas for
small to mid-size downtowns across North America, outlining
a process to help planners, municipal staff, civic leaders,
developers, and concerned citizens discover the full potential
of their downtown. Small Is Big looks ahead to the emerging
economy and how smaller towns and cities are taking
advantage of people’s search for “place” first and job second.
More individuals and families can build their future anywhere.
They are looking for a place with heart and soul where people
have like-minded values and demonstrate creative thinking.
The question this book attempts to answer is: how can we
create attractive and authentic small to mid-size downtowns
that are magnets for the next generation, offering vitality and
prosperity? Realistically, not all small to mid-size downtowns
qualify to be such magnets; their location or other attributes
could make it difficult, if not improbable, for them to go through
this renaissance. But before we make what may be premature
judgments or decisions, let us explore the possibilities.
This book focuses on the process and rigour required to
take at least some small downtowns from merely surviving
to being prosperous and ready for the new economy.
Through the worksheets and unique assessment tool (see
appendices), it will help you evaluate, plan, and design your
downtown and take it to the next level. The pathway set out
in these pages can be customized to the particular needs
and scale of your downtown. To create this framework,
I re-examined downtown plans I created over the past
decade to find out not only what works and what does not,
but also, maybe more importantly, the key ingredients
in creating a more resilient and vibrant downtown.
Buy it on Amazon
204 pages.
This is a small book with big ideas. It is a primer of ideas for
small to mid-size downtowns across North America, outlining
a process to help planners, municipal staff, civic leaders,
developers, and concerned citizens discover the full potential
of their downtown. Small Is Big looks ahead to the emerging
economy and how smaller towns and cities are taking
advantage of people’s search for “place” first and job second.
More individuals and families can build their future anywhere.
They are looking for a place with heart and soul where people
have like-minded values and demonstrate creative thinking.
The question this book attempts to answer is: how can we
create attractive and authentic small to mid-size downtowns
that are magnets for the next generation, offering vitality and
prosperity? Realistically, not all small to mid-size downtowns
qualify to be such magnets; their location or other attributes
could make it difficult, if not improbable, for them to go through
this renaissance. But before we make what may be premature
judgments or decisions, let us explore the possibilities.
This book focuses on the process and rigour required to
take at least some small downtowns from merely surviving
to being prosperous and ready for the new economy.
Through the worksheets and unique assessment tool (see
appendices), it will help you evaluate, plan, and design your
downtown and take it to the next level. The pathway set out
in these pages can be customized to the particular needs
and scale of your downtown. To create this framework,
I re-examined downtown plans I created over the past
decade to find out not only what works and what does not,
but also, maybe more importantly, the key ingredients
in creating a more resilient and vibrant downtown.
Buy it on Amazon
204 pages.
This is a small book with big ideas. It is a primer of ideas for
small to mid-size downtowns across North America, outlining
a process to help planners, municipal staff, civic leaders,
developers, and concerned citizens discover the full potential
of their downtown. Small Is Big looks ahead to the emerging
economy and how smaller towns and cities are taking
advantage of people’s search for “place” first and job second.
More individuals and families can build their future anywhere.
They are looking for a place with heart and soul where people
have like-minded values and demonstrate creative thinking.
The question this book attempts to answer is: how can we
create attractive and authentic small to mid-size downtowns
that are magnets for the next generation, offering vitality and
prosperity? Realistically, not all small to mid-size downtowns
qualify to be such magnets; their location or other attributes
could make it difficult, if not improbable, for them to go through
this renaissance. But before we make what may be premature
judgments or decisions, let us explore the possibilities.
This book focuses on the process and rigour required to
take at least some small downtowns from merely surviving
to being prosperous and ready for the new economy.
Through the worksheets and unique assessment tool (see
appendices), it will help you evaluate, plan, and design your
downtown and take it to the next level. The pathway set out
in these pages can be customized to the particular needs
and scale of your downtown. To create this framework,
I re-examined downtown plans I created over the past
decade to find out not only what works and what does not,
but also, maybe more importantly, the key ingredients
in creating a more resilient and vibrant downtown.
Buy it on Amazon