Revitalizing the Small Town Mainstreet. Hard Times: Communities in Transition.

Presenting a base of general information that local business people and government officials involved with downtown revitalization should be familiar with in order to understand the range of options available and factors that will influence the outcomes of any revitalization program, the paper summarizes current theories, trends, studies, and development practices pertaining to downtown revitalization in small towns. Section one describes basic elements/concepts of five organizations/authors: recommendations for organization, design, downtown promotion and economic restructure by the National Main Street Center-National Trust for Historic Preservation; emphasis on physical revitalization, traffic, parking, public transit, restoration of residential areas, and economic revitalization by Private Revitalization of Downtown, Inc.; stress on cooperative thinking, full awareness, task-oriented organization, and independent action by Craig Aronoff; strategies involving concern, optimism, confidence, leadership, knowledge, plans, public partners, and the ability to make deals by Irwin Davis; and recognition of the importance of public policy by Robert Craycroft. Section two summarizes critical concepts treated in small town development literature: organization; design; traffic, parking, and safety; land use; economic structure; merchandising and promotion; and public policy. The final section focuses on unique characteristics associated with downtown revitalization in small towns and establishes the basis for an alternative approach. (NEC)