July 2003: Can Town Centers Fight Back?
Rediscovering the competitive edge of town centers
Our town centers appear to be on the brink of disappearing. Urban sprawl, shopping centers and private vehicles have changed the way we shop and threaten to turn town centers into ghost towns. Economic activity can be revitalized if businesses in town centers were to adopt precisely those traits that have made shopping centers a success. In this issue, we share some of the most significant results of two surveys: one of small business and another of household across six town centers, located mostly in the center of the island. Find out what are some of the weaknesses and strengths of town centers and what key steps they can take to initiate the needed comeback.