How Typical Economic Development Kills Community Character

An economic development pro makes an argument for an approach to economic development that prioritizes the urban design decisions that favor community character.

2 minute read

September 23, 2020, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Strip Mall

dno1967b / Flickr

Joe Borgstrom, principal with Place + Main Advisors, LLC,  flips the script on the traditional defense of community character: the reader won't find here an impassioned defense of suburban tract homes and the free flow of automobiles, but an approach to economic development that reflects the urban design agenda put forward by the Congress for the New Urbanism.

"Preserving a community’s character is often used as a rallying cry for the NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) crowd, but a community can improve itself without completely changing its character," Borgstrom writes.

But where some market urbanists might find fault with the idea of community character as a quantifiable concept, Borgstrom argues for the inherent economic value of community character: "Before any marketing brochure, website, or ad campaign, the community’s character is its first and most important economic development message."

With more detail included in the article, Borgstrom lists several character killers, namely, strip malls, car-centric land use and infrastructure, national chains, mega-block projects, and a lack of historic preservation.

On the issue of historic preservation, Borgstrom is most in-line with the traditional development opposition politics the article clearly intends to critique. The difference might be found in Borgstrom's focus on the financial incentives working in preservation's favor (even in the face of market pressure that favors building quick, cheap, disposable buildings, according to Borgstrom): "But historic preservation is an effective economic development tool that can help prospective building owners get financing for the appropriate care and redevelopment of a property. There are several financial incentives to do these types of projects, namely the federal Historic Tax Credit which offers up to 20% tax credit for eligible expenses."

Wednesday, September 2, 2020 in Proud Places

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Cobblestone street with vintage street lamps in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah Reduces Speed Limits on Almost 100 City Streets

The historic Georgia city is lowering speed limits in an effort to reduce road fatalities.

May 20 - WJCL

Sign for Loma Alta Park in Altadena, Los Angeles County.

A Park Reborn: Resilience and Renewal in Fire-Stricken Altadena

Rebuilt in just two months after the devastating Eaton Fire, Loma Alta Park now stands as a symbol of community resilience and renewal, even as some residents hope recovery efforts will continue to support housing stability and long-term equity.

May 20 - Pasadena NOw

Colorful historic homes in Madrid, Spain.

Spain Moves to Ban 66,000 Airbnbs

The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.

May 20 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.