The downtown, or central business district, has always been the center of activity in the small town. Now, however, due to commercial strip development, obsolete circulation, aging structures, and suburban growth, the existence of these downtowns is in danger. A movement is taking place to redevelop these areas in small towns all across the country.
Direction is needed to help such towns realize their goals.
One problem which can often delay or even terminate a prospective revitalization endeavor is lack of understanding of the time factors involved with various aspects of the project. This study analyzes the role of time in the planning and implementation processes of small town business district redevelopment projects. Four projects implemented in three midwestern towns served as case studies in the research. Planning processes used in each project were reconstructed by newspaper searches and interviews with participants of the projects. These processes were then analyzed in terms of efficiency, problems, and delays.