Downtown is the center of a community’s economy, but it also has an essential role as the community’s social center. Thriving downtowns offer assets that promote social and cultural inspiration for their residents and bring people together for activities that stimulate personal growth and rejuvenation of the spirit.

​Consider the social, intellectual, and economic impact of people participating in special events - large or small - held at downtown venues and spaces. Public spaces and private businesses can invite residents to enjoy live performing arts, films, art exhibitions, book readings, literary arts discussions, holiday celebration events, and gathering places for enjoying food and beverages.  The list goes on.

Cultural and social activities are important to individual growth, but they are also critical to the health of the downtown district. Such options for play and personal inspiration create a vibrant hub and that’s good for business sales, because people who visit downtown nightly and weekly, also spend money in downtown stores.

Are your town’s residents enjoying these cultural and social options on a regular basis?

Hopefully, your assessment of downtown will reveal opportunities to expand and add more of these community-building assets.

​The visual appearance of your district is the foundation of its potential for vitality, and it is the first thing that engages and hopefully excites the public about your commercial district. How’s the “curb appeal,” the beauty and charm of your downtown?
 
The architecture of your commercial, residential, and institutional buildings is the key piece of your downtown’s visual identity. What is the current condition of those buildings? How well are they being maintained?  
 
In addition to the architecture, there are other visual elements that create a sense of value, quality, and pride such as landscaping, flowers, blooming shrubs, and trees. Does your downtown have a flourishing landscape program to care for these colorful and comforting plants? These are public and private investments that pay dividends by making your downtown district a more beautiful and comfortable place to shop, live, and visit. Have you done a visual inventory lately?
 
How does your downtown look?
Success is dependent upon its curb appeal.