1st Edition

Downtown Planning for Smaller and Midsized Communities

By Philip Walker Copyright 2009
    256 Pages
    by Routledge

    256 Pages
    by Routledge

    "For so long we were floundering and taking ad hoc measures, but the minute I understood what a downtown plan really was I said 'We need one of those!' As it turned out, it was the most fantastic vehicle I've ever seen," said Susan Moffat-Thomas of New Bern, North Carolina. Her hometown got a much-needed shot in the arm from a good downtown plan. Does yours need a similar boost? The Author, an experienced downtown-planning consultant, offers practical tips for preserving a sense of place, improving fiscal efficiency, and enhancing quality of life in Downtown Planning for Smaller and Midsized Communities.  Planners and revitalization officials will learn how to address physical components of the downtown, as well as economic development. The Author, an experienced downtown-planning consultant, also explains how to develop an organization to implement a downtown plan; how federal, state, and local policies may influence the planning process; and how to fund a downtown revitalization effort.

    1. The Groundwork Before Planning2. The Process of Preparing a Downtown Plan 3. The Physical Plan 4. The Economic and Marketing Plan 5. Implementation Strategy 6. Conclusions: What Is Really Important?

    Biography

    Philip L. Walker, AICP, is the principal of the Walker Collaborative, which is involved in downtown planning and neighborhood revitalization, historic preservation, and community visioning.