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.

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