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Downtowns Are Really Cool Places!

By Doyle G. Hyett and Dolores P. Palma
HyettPalma, Inc.
Making Downtown Renaissance a Reality

One of the best places to test the “coolness” of any community is in its Downtown.

Take the following test to determine how cool your Downtown really is.

• Does your Downtown have a multitude of successful retail businesses, giving it life and vitality and street-level animation?
  
• Does your Downtown have a host of professional office occupants, providing vital services to and jobs for the residents of your community?
  
• Does your Downtown have housing, located above shops in existing historic buildings, in new low- and mid- and high-rise buildings constructed on previously underutilized or vacant Downtown lots, in townhouse and single-family developments on the edges of Downtown, and in neighborhoods surrounding Downtown?
  
• Does your Downtown have a variety of cultural and entertainment offerings, keeping Downtown employees after hours and bringing the community back Downtown in the evening, and attracting visitors to the commercial district?
  
• Does your Downtown have lots of food, from sandwich shops to coffee houses, from green grocers to fine dining, and from brew pubs to bistros?
  
• Does your Downtown have the city hall and courthouse and post office and central library and art center and museum?
  
• Does your Downtown continue to be the location of a multitude of religious institutions located in historic structures?
  
• Does your Downtown have adequate and convenient parking and easily navigable streets?
  
• Does your Downtown have trees and flowers and benches and water fountains and quiet places to just relax?
  
• Is your Downtown a gathering place, not just a place for commerce?
  
• When you have out-of-town friends or family visiting, do you take them to see your Downtown?
  
• Is your Downtown the focal point of your community; a bold symbol of who you are; reflect an image of prosperity; make one take notice and want to return?
  
• Are you proud to claim your Downtown as yours, telling all your family and friends and neighbors to come down, spend time, hang, and simply enjoy?

If you answered yes to even a few of these questions, you may very well be on your way to coolness. Always remember:

As Downtown Goes, So Goes the Town!

So, if you want to be a cool community, by definition you must have a cool Downtown.

About the Authors

Doyle G. Hyett and Dolores P. Palma are the founders of Hyett Palma, Inc., the only national consulting firm specializing in the economic renaissance of Downtowns and older business districts. Since being formed in 1985, the firm’s work has restored confidence and stimulated private investment in hundreds of Downtowns nationwide. In addition, HyettPalma provides all technical assistance for the America Downtown® program (offered by the National League of Cities) and the Indiana Downtown® program (offered by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns). The firm was recently selected to complete 10 Downtown economic enhancement strategies in Michigan in association with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s new Blueprints for Michigan Downtowns, which was collaboratively created in association with the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

For more information about HyettPalma, please visit www.hyettpalma.com.

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