The Plan for a Declining City

Abstract

The actions of this thesis are an attempt to explain how a small town might be able to avoid decline. The root cause of small town decline is the theory that many small towns rely on that 'one large factory' that has opened its doors on the edge of town-in fact that may be the only reason that the town existed there at all. Markets for that specific industry tend to come and go or takeoff until the 'bubble' bursts. One solution for a town that does not have the gift of being able to have attracted a varied commercial/industrial (CI) base is a college. Towns that have institutions such as this, or even another type of influential institution have faired better than those based on industry such as a sawmill, a truck manufacturing plant, or any other production industry for example. In these towns the factory first leaves, then residents soon follow, and then the businesses along "Main Street" suffer and close their doors. A town needs to feel centered; there is a need to redefine a definition. Once the town's industry has gone, there can be little if any definition. The small town should become defined by a new institution. A university that matches the population of the town it is in will no doubt become the image of the city. It will not only help to define the city, but will itself become the symbol and landmark. I have selected the small town of Vandalia, Michigan to work as a case study for my theories. This small town of 450 people is arguably in decline. There no doubt that this village has always been a small town, but if there is nothing for it to center itself on (for example a physical downtown or main street), it will inevitably lose interest as a viable community, and "If you don't grow, you die."1 Every community needs residential, retail, office space, recreation, and civic spaces; if several of these are missing, the village ceases to be a cohesive community. There are many towns still waiting for that one big plant to come back to town and reemploy its citizens, and yet most of them will never see that day. However, with the continued stability of the college industry, these towns can foster continued sustainability in their tax roles, town population, and business custody. An educational institution centered around and balanced by other necessary community places can give it employment, a sense of place, as well as become a stepping stone to the redevelopment of the Main Street businesses. 1-Russ Lewis of the Oakland County main Street program on Tuesday, January 17,2006