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Resources for Rural Communities

(Re)Building Downtown: A Guidebook for Revitalization

 
 
Date Published: December 2015
 
 
This resource is intended to help those who want to re-invigorate and strengthen neighborhood centers of economy, culture, and history through a smart growth approach to development.
 
This guide uses Smart Growth America’s seven-step approach to downtown redevelopment:
 
  1. Understand your community
  2. Create an attractive, walkable place
  3. Diversify economic uses
  4. Plan for equity
  5. Improve government regulations and processes
  6. Finance projects
  7. Establish on-going place management

According to Smart Growth America, the seven steps are essential for a successful downtown district. The resource provides gudinaces on each of the above steps, as well as, strategies communities can use to implement each. 

 
 

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