Older buildings play an important role in the life of our downtowns. They give cities and towns a unique identity and create a sense of place that reminds us of an era that incorporated a variety of styles and scales into the downtown environment. Older buildings are also attractive to many businesses, professional services, boutiques, galleries and non-profits. Communities should develop strategies to convert older buildings to uses that can prosper in a downtown Main Street environment. Older buildings are finding new life as entertainment centers, business incubators, residences and museums.
Cultural tourism is especially dependent on a mix of older building types.
Helping communities to remake their commercial centers to meet the challenge of the 21st Century economy also strengthens the surrounding region by protecting natural, cultural and scenic resources that can be lost when neighboring communities compete with each other to attract development. Ronald Coan of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency told the Western New York Regional Roundtable that a single voice is invaluable for promoting rational development and attracting industry from outside the region. He described the effort now underway in Erie County to avoid unhealthy competition by bringing the local economic development agencies together in a voluntary County-wide working group with the mission of retaining, expanding and attracting business. Efforts of this type are also important for incorporating Quality Communities Principles into redevelopment projects, especially for taking advantage of the existing assets located downtown. When communities cooperate instead of compete, they can refocus redevelopment efforts from individual projects that may only benefit one community to long-term visions for improving quality of life for all.