Growth and decay are two sides of the same coin, and part of the cycles that a downtown core will go through—so revitalization should be an ongoing process rather than a periodic effort by city planners.

So says Ross Blackwell, a registered professional planner with a background in urban design. Blackwell was part of Focus Corporation, the team of planners involved with the recent Spirit Square design and 10th Street upgrades in Cranbrook, British Columbia. According to Blackwell’s understanding of strong community centres, the constant flux of businesses, trends and demographics means always re-evaluating how to maintain a healthy core.

“A downtown core is and should be the heart of the community,” said Blackwell. “It should define the soul of the community, so you want to make sure it represents accurately a sense of place.”

While each downtown should be uniquely representative of that municipality, there are factors that are common to the most lively urban cores: walkability, visual interest, safety, beauty and accessibility to people of different abilities.

For instance, Blackwell said that in towns with a large retiree population, ensuring that comfortable, clean benches are plentiful is important. There should be a mixture of man-made and natural elements—such as trees, flowers and water features. Public art is important, as are details that will be attractive to children.

One of the mistakes that many communities make is having too many similar businesses on one street—a row of banks, for instance—that do not encourage foot traffic. It’s also important to have a mosaic of window displays that increases visual interest. Outdoor dining areas can have a huge impact on the feeling of community within the core.

Co-operation between all spheres of influence is essential, according to Blackwell.

“(A vibrant downtown) can influence social behaviour—the social behaviour that we all want to see,” said Blackwell. “The secret to achieving this are three legs of a stool: the political, the social and the business. When one leg is missing, you miss the chance to attain your goals.”

Blackwell can be contacted at rb.fourcorners@gmail.com.