WE KNOW REAL ESTATE MARKETS
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team >
      • Steve Spillette
      • Ty Jacobsen
      • Michael Prats
      • Brenda Crenshaw
      • Scott Reineking
      • Our Clients
    • Newsworthy
    • Testimonials
  • SERVICES
    • Lot Price Survey
    • Market Analysis & Feasibility Studies
    • Economic & Demographic Analysis
    • Public Plans & Special Districts
    • Surveys & Primary Research
    • GIS Services
  • ResIntel
    • Housing and ResIntel Studies
  • Contact

6 Reasons Why Some Small Towns Never Grow

6/28/2016

Comments

 
Kent Dussair
​CDS Community Development Strategies
Every big city was once little. But why do so many small towns never really grow? Here are six common reasons why some small places stay that way. While most little towns cannot affect the first two, the last four might represent an opportunity for growth... if they can be corrected.
1) The times they are a changin’.
There are historical reasons cities are located where they are and sometimes the original location factors no longer exist or at least are not relevant.  When highways replaced railroads as the primary means of access some small cities became less of a destination and more of a self-contained community.  Typically, new highways intentionally bypass commercial areas to avoid stop lights and congestion.  Over time key industries/employers can dry up or even shut down and the demand for historically mainstay agricultural crops may diminish.  Replacing these employers or products can be slow if not impossible.  
​2) Where the heck are we?
Isolation can be considered a good thing if outside influences are unwanted.  However, being located in close proximity to a growing metropolitan area can be a real advantage.  Big cities attract new businesses and industries who need or want to be in the area.  Some of these businesses will prefer a small city atmosphere – employees can live and work in a less stressful environment and yet be able to enjoy big city amenities when needed.  It’s a whole lot easier to reel in a company who is already motivated to locate in the general area than it is to go out bag one from scratch. 
Picture
3) So what do y'all do in this town?
What puts your city on the map?  In order to grow or even maintain a population base every city must have some type of catalytic attraction.  Without a local college, a major recognizable employer who is always creating jobs or some type of tourist attraction a city can be invisible.  It is difficult to imagine how a small city can expect to grow without having at least one special feature that outsiders can identify with. 
Picture
4) Growth is of the devil.
When City leaders are not keen on growth, staying small is not hard to do.  Some people drawn to governing positons are not visionaries and believe that change is something to fear and not encourage.  Once a no growth reputation is born, developers and business owners will often take the course of least resistance – if it is perceived that local authorities have policies that oppose growth they will quickly move on to greener pastures.  Nothing will kill future growth opportunities more completely than a well-known city wide no growth attitude.  
5) What have you done for me lately.
Older residents with ties to the community tend to stay put but as the young ones grow up they need a good reason not to leave.  Local employment may be the best reason but other factors can’t be overlooked.  They will want good schools for their children, sufficient retail shopping and services and good quality housing they can afford.  These same issues are as critical to attracting and keeping businesses as they are to keeping home grown residents.  Any city not perceived to be providing a high quality of life for its residents and businesses is not likely to survive over the long haul. 
6) Livin la vida broka.
Businesses create jobs and often need a little help from the City.  However, when tax revenues are insufficient to fund incentives and/or the needed infrastructure improvements that business want - it’s hard to be competitive.  No one wants to pay higher taxes and any benefits to be derived can take years to materialize.  However, if the City wants to grow and become proactive in stimulating economic development, finding creative and acceptable ways to increase the tax base may be required.  
Comments

    Follow CDS

    RSS Feed

    Search

    Categories

    All
    CDS In The Press
    CDS Projects
    Commercial Real Estate
    Cost Of Living
    Demographics
    Dense Development
    Employment
    Focus Groups
    GIS
    Grocery Stores
    Housing
    Housing Preferences
    Infrastructure
    Land Use
    LPS
    Market Analysis
    Market Trends
    Master Planned Communities
    Mixed Use
    Multifamily
    Municipal Utility Districts
    Office
    Parking
    Parks And Open Space
    Population Growth
    Race And Ethnicity
    Recreation Planning
    Redevelopment
    Rented Housing
    Research
    Residential
    Retail
    Rural Development
    School Districts
    Self-Storage
    Senior Housing
    Single Family Residential
    Small Towns
    Special Districts
    Student Housing
    Survey
    Taxing Policy
    Urban Planning
    Walkability

    Archives

    July 2021
    September 2019
    August 2019
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    January 2014
    March 2013
    May 2011
    October 2010
    November 2009
    September 2009
    January 2009
    June 2007
    March 2007
    January 2007
    July 2006
    May 2006
    August 2001

Picture


​connect with us 

CONTACT US: 
1001 Dairy Ashford, Suite 450
Houston, TX 77077
Phone: 281-582-0847


​© 2024 CDS - All rights reserved.  
​CDS is an InterDirect USA Ltd. Subsidiary
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team >
      • Steve Spillette
      • Ty Jacobsen
      • Michael Prats
      • Brenda Crenshaw
      • Scott Reineking
      • Our Clients
    • Newsworthy
    • Testimonials
  • SERVICES
    • Lot Price Survey
    • Market Analysis & Feasibility Studies
    • Economic & Demographic Analysis
    • Public Plans & Special Districts
    • Surveys & Primary Research
    • GIS Services
  • ResIntel
    • Housing and ResIntel Studies
  • Contact