I have a dream for small cities for I believe that small cities are wonderful
believe that small cities are wonderful
believe that small cities are wonderful and inspiring places to live today I’m
and inspiring places to live today I’m
and inspiring places to live today I’m going to talk a little bit about my
going to talk a little bit about my
going to talk a little bit about my experience in the areas of economic
experience in the areas of economic
experience in the areas of economic development and planning I want to talk
development and planning I want to talk
development and planning I want to talk a little bit about some of my thoughts
a little bit about some of my thoughts
a little bit about some of my thoughts and observations and some of the
and observations and some of the
and observations and some of the development trends that have shaped
development trends that have shaped
development trends that have shaped development within our United States
development within our United States
development within our United States obviously the first trend is
obviously the first trend is
obviously the first trend is suburbanization suburbanization in its
suburbanization suburbanization in its
suburbanization suburbanization in its simplest form is just simply the
simplest form is just simply the
simplest form is just simply the movement of people away from a
movement of people away from a
movement of people away from a community’s core you began sort of after
community’s core you began sort of after
community’s core you began sort of after World War Two to very real degrees that
World War Two to very real degrees that
World War Two to very real degrees that is still going on today
is still going on today
is still going on today however it is being placed what with
however it is being placed what with
however it is being placed what with something that I think is much more
something that I think is much more
something that I think is much more dynamic and that is the concept of place
dynamic and that is the concept of place
dynamic and that is the concept of place making place making is the innovative
making place making is the innovative
making place making is the innovative and design of public and private spaces
and design of public and private spaces
and design of public and private spaces these public and private spaces are
these public and private spaces are
these public and private spaces are shared and around these public and
shared and around these public and
shared and around these public and private spaces new development is
private spaces new development is
private spaces new development is created it has an emphasis on downtown’s
created it has an emphasis on downtown’s
created it has an emphasis on downtown’s neighborhoods and community image but
neighborhoods and community image but
neighborhoods and community image but what is very significant about this
what is very significant about this
what is very significant about this process and what is important about the
process and what is important about the
process and what is important about the places that that we lived is that where
places that that we lived is that where
places that that we lived is that where we live shapes who we become it shapes
we live shapes who we become it shapes
we live shapes who we become it shapes the mind of our children and and it
the mind of our children and and it
the mind of our children and and it directs future development next for
directs future development next for
directs future development next for today’s purpose I want to talk a little
today’s purpose I want to talk a little
today’s purpose I want to talk a little bit about and kind of understand what is
bit about and kind of understand what is
bit about and kind of understand what is a small city the US Census Bureau
a small city the US Census Bureau
a small city the US Census Bureau defines urbanized places as any place
defines urbanized places as any place
defines urbanized places as any place that has 50,000 persons with the density
that has 50,000 persons with the density
that has 50,000 persons with the density of at least 1,000 persons per square
of at least 1,000 persons per square
of at least 1,000 persons per square mile given that there are 500 urbanized
mile given that there are 500 urbanized
mile given that there are 500 urbanized places in
places in
places in United States for my purposes today I
United States for my purposes today I
United States for my purposes today I consider a small city a place that has
consider a small city a place that has
consider a small city a place that has an urbanized population of less than
an urbanized population of less than
an urbanized population of less than 200,000 persons given that and given
200,000 persons given that and given
200,000 persons given that and given that the fact that Florence South
that the fact that Florence South
that the fact that Florence South Carolina has an urbanized population of
Carolina has an urbanized population of
Carolina has an urbanized population of 90,000 then we really fit very well into
90,000 then we really fit very well into
90,000 then we really fit very well into that definition but also what’s
that definition but also what’s
that definition but also what’s important to consider is that there are
important to consider is that there are
important to consider is that there are 320 urbanized spaces that are a similar
320 urbanized spaces that are a similar
320 urbanized spaces that are a similar size similar interest and compete with
size similar interest and compete with
size similar interest and compete with us for jobs economic development
us for jobs economic development
us for jobs economic development opportunities and for a community image
opportunities and for a community image
opportunities and for a community image now I want us to kind of follow along
now I want us to kind of follow along
now I want us to kind of follow along with a few premises our concepts and I
with a few premises our concepts and I
with a few premises our concepts and I want you to think about these as I kind
want you to think about these as I kind
want you to think about these as I kind of move forward through the rest of my
of move forward through the rest of my
of move forward through the rest of my discussion first I want us to take the
discussion first I want us to take the
discussion first I want us to take the position or try to understand and
position or try to understand and
position or try to understand and certainly I think we do that where we
certainly I think we do that where we
certainly I think we do that where we choose to live is one of the most
choose to live is one of the most
choose to live is one of the most important decisions that we will ever
important decisions that we will ever
important decisions that we will ever make there are very many variables to
make there are very many variables to
make there are very many variables to that decision but that decision is
that decision but that decision is
that decision but that decision is extremely important because that
extremely important because that
extremely important because that decisions shapes how we feel about where
decisions shapes how we feel about where
decisions shapes how we feel about where we live and who we become it influences
we live and who we become it influences
we live and who we become it influences us greatly
us greatly
us greatly and how we deal with the people around
and how we deal with the people around
and how we deal with the people around us second I want you to think about why
us second I want you to think about why
us second I want you to think about why cities and this is relatively simple but
cities and this is relatively simple but
cities and this is relatively simple but certainly cities are the Centers of
certainly cities are the Centers of
certainly cities are the Centers of Commerce they are often the seat of
Commerce they are often the seat of
Commerce they are often the seat of government and with their collective
government and with their collective
government and with their collective population in an economic wealth that
population in an economic wealth that
population in an economic wealth that cities influence the arts the culture
cities influence the arts the culture
cities influence the arts the culture there therefore they influence society
there therefore they influence society
there therefore they influence society and he´ll and how well they do that is
and he´ll and how well they do that is
and he´ll and how well they do that is really dependent on how well they do
really dependent on how well they do
really dependent on how well they do that and we’ll talk about that a little
that and we’ll talk about that a little
that and we’ll talk about that a little bit later so let’s think about why
bit later so let’s think about why
bit later so let’s think about why cities in what makes cities great places
cities in what makes cities great places
cities in what makes cities great places to be and particularly as it relates to
to be and particularly as it relates to
to be and particularly as it relates to small cities
small cities
small cities for small cities in comparison to large
for small cities in comparison to large
for small cities in comparison to large cities typically are very personal we
cities typically are very personal we
cities typically are very personal we kind of go through life we are it is
kind of go through life we are it is
kind of go through life we are it is very easy for us that come from small
very easy for us that come from small
very easy for us that come from small cities to recognize that kind of
cities to recognize that kind of
cities to recognize that kind of remember that that football game against
remember that that football game against
remember that that football game against a crosstown arrival it is not unusual
a crosstown arrival it is not unusual
a crosstown arrival it is not unusual for us to kind of experience one mall
for us to kind of experience one mall
for us to kind of experience one mall our other type social venue we played in
our other type social venue we played in
our other type social venue we played in recreational sports with friends and
recreational sports with friends and
recreational sports with friends and acquaintances from other neighborhoods
acquaintances from other neighborhoods
acquaintances from other neighborhoods and other schools therefore small cities
and other schools therefore small cities
and other schools therefore small cities tend to be very personal
tend to be very personal
tend to be very personal they have a rich shared experience but
they have a rich shared experience but
they have a rich shared experience but also and it is very reasonable to
also and it is very reasonable to
also and it is very reasonable to consider this that small cities can also
consider this that small cities can also
consider this that small cities can also feel confining they sometimes might be
feel confining they sometimes might be
feel confining they sometimes might be limiting and it’s not all it is fairly
limiting and it’s not all it is fairly
limiting and it’s not all it is fairly common for a mentor a family member a
common for a mentor a family member a
common for a mentor a family member a teacher to say if you are going to gain
teacher to say if you are going to gain
teacher to say if you are going to gain knowledge if you’re going to experience
knowledge if you’re going to experience
knowledge if you’re going to experience the world then you have to leave the
the world then you have to leave the
the world then you have to leave the place that you grew up to experience and
place that you grew up to experience and
place that you grew up to experience and learn and enjoy that experience some of
learn and enjoy that experience some of
learn and enjoy that experience some of that is certainly true but is but it is
that is certainly true but is but it is
that is certainly true but is but it is not necessarily the concept that I that
not necessarily the concept that I that
not necessarily the concept that I that I take hold of because I believe with
I take hold of because I believe with
I take hold of because I believe with the right set of circumstances the right
the right set of circumstances the right
the right set of circumstances the right kind of leadership the right kind of
kind of leadership the right kind of
kind of leadership the right kind of resources being put forward that small
resources being put forward that small
resources being put forward that small cities can be truly distinctive and
cities can be truly distinctive and
cities can be truly distinctive and interesting and fun places to live it is
interesting and fun places to live it is
interesting and fun places to live it is a challenge though for us to be able to
a challenge though for us to be able to
a challenge though for us to be able to achieve that and I would imagine that if
achieve that and I would imagine that if
achieve that and I would imagine that if I took individuals from this room and we
I took individuals from this room and we
I took individuals from this room and we went to a table in another and another
went to a table in another and another
went to a table in another and another part of this building that we could sit
part of this building that we could sit
part of this building that we could sit around that table and in in a relatively
around that table and in in a relatively
around that table and in in a relatively short period of time we could come up
short period of time we could come up
short period of time we could come up with the features that make for great
with the features that make for great
with the features that make for great places to live and if we did that
places to live and if we did that
places to live and if we did that I believe that list
would look very similar to this features
would look very similar to this features that make for great places to live that
that make for great places to live that
that make for great places to live that that character and image is important
that character and image is important
that character and image is important that is that the form and type of
that is that the form and type of
that is that the form and type of development is attractive and appealing
development is attractive and appealing
development is attractive and appealing that our parks and green spaces are
that our parks and green spaces are
that our parks and green spaces are connected to our neighborhoods that our
connected to our neighborhoods that our
connected to our neighborhoods that our neighborhoods are connected to to the
neighborhoods are connected to to the
neighborhoods are connected to to the larger community and those are integral
larger community and those are integral
larger community and those are integral parts of who we are and how we relate to
parts of who we are and how we relate to
parts of who we are and how we relate to ourselves and what end the place that we
ourselves and what end the place that we
ourselves and what end the place that we live that entertainment is available
live that entertainment is available
live that entertainment is available it’s varied it’s interesting we have
it’s varied it’s interesting we have
it’s varied it’s interesting we have movie theaters we have breweries we have
movie theaters we have breweries we have
movie theaters we have breweries we have good places to go interesting
good places to go interesting
good places to go interesting restaurants and that entertainment is
restaurants and that entertainment is
restaurants and that entertainment is designed for both young and old that
designed for both young and old that
designed for both young and old that diversity is a part of who we are
diversity is a part of who we are
diversity is a part of who we are whether it’s in the arts or in culture
whether it’s in the arts or in culture
whether it’s in the arts or in culture whether it’s in people or whether it’s
whether it’s in people or whether it’s
whether it’s in people or whether it’s in the concept of ideas there that
in the concept of ideas there that
in the concept of ideas there that public safety that we feel and are safe
public safety that we feel and are safe
public safety that we feel and are safe in the various spaces that we live and
in the various spaces that we live and
in the various spaces that we live and go that we would have a strong economy
go that we would have a strong economy
go that we would have a strong economy that that economy would produce living
that that economy would produce living
that that economy would produce living wages that those that those jobs would
wages that those that those jobs would
wages that those that those jobs would be interesting and they would keep us
be interesting and they would keep us
be interesting and they would keep us here and our children here we would have
here and our children here we would have
here and our children here we would have access to public health and that access
access to public health and that access
access to public health and that access to public health good hospitals would be
to public health good hospitals would be
to public health good hospitals would be affordable we would be socially engaged
affordable we would be socially engaged
affordable we would be socially engaged not unlike today we’d be socially
not unlike today we’d be socially
not unlike today we’d be socially engaged in community and family that we
engaged in community and family that we
engaged in community and family that we would have a distinctive City that where
would have a distinctive City that where
would have a distinctive City that where we go who we speak to if we’re in
we go who we speak to if we’re in
we go who we speak to if we’re in another part of part of the state or the
another part of part of the state or the
another part of part of the state or the country and we say we are from south of
country and we say we are from south of
country and we say we are from south of Florence South Carolina that we have a
Florence South Carolina that we have a
Florence South Carolina that we have a sense of pride and many people know who
sense of pride and many people know who
sense of pride and many people know who we are and that they have been here and
we are and that they have been here and
we are and that they have been here and seen our seen our community and we just
seen our seen our community and we just
seen our seen our community and we just have a sense of goodness about that that
have a sense of goodness about that that
have a sense of goodness about that that feeling that we have a healthy downtown
feeling that we have a healthy downtown
feeling that we have a healthy downtown sustainable growing
sustainable growing
sustainable growing because downtown’s give us identity we
because downtown’s give us identity we
because downtown’s give us identity we have strong neighborhoods affordable
have strong neighborhoods affordable
have strong neighborhoods affordable housing we have interesting retail and
housing we have interesting retail and
housing we have interesting retail and things to do and our community is clean
things to do and our community is clean
things to do and our community is clean efficient and we’re proud of that aspect
efficient and we’re proud of that aspect
efficient and we’re proud of that aspect now given that it is relatively simple
now given that it is relatively simple
now given that it is relatively simple for us to kind of say hey these are the
for us to kind of say hey these are the
for us to kind of say hey these are the things that that we want because we’ve
things that that we want because we’ve
things that that we want because we’ve experienced them we’ve read about them
experienced them we’ve read about them
experienced them we’ve read about them we have witnessed them in some way shape
we have witnessed them in some way shape
we have witnessed them in some way shape or form but the real struggle is not
or form but the real struggle is not
or form but the real struggle is not imagining what we want not imagining
imagining what we want not imagining
imagining what we want not imagining what our dream is or what we desire but
what our dream is or what we desire but
what our dream is or what we desire but being able to to be in the position to
being able to to be in the position to
being able to to be in the position to create it and that is the real crutch of
create it and that is the real crutch of
create it and that is the real crutch of the problem and the challenge and the
the problem and the challenge and the
the problem and the challenge and the dream for our city Florence South
dream for our city Florence South
dream for our city Florence South Carolina a short while ago I read an
Carolina a short while ago I read an
Carolina a short while ago I read an article written by James fallow who
article written by James fallow who
article written by James fallow who writes for the Atlantic magazine he he
writes for the Atlantic magazine he he
writes for the Atlantic magazine he he had traveled around the country and he
had traveled around the country and he
had traveled around the country and he only visited cities that were successful
only visited cities that were successful
only visited cities that were successful and and in that in those interviews and
and and in that in those interviews and
and and in that in those interviews and observations he very concisely described
observations he very concisely described
observations he very concisely described why some cities are successful and
why some cities are successful and
why some cities are successful and others are not I’m going to kind of go
others are not I’m going to kind of go
others are not I’m going to kind of go through that list and in just a moment
through that list and in just a moment
through that list and in just a moment but obviously there are other people who
but obviously there are other people who
but obviously there are other people who have done done that as well but it is
have done done that as well but it is
have done done that as well but it is this challenge that is so critical to
this challenge that is so critical to
this challenge that is so critical to our success traits that produce a place
our success traits that produce a place
our success traits that produce a place that inspires a place that we want to
that inspires a place that we want to
that inspires a place that we want to live that we want our children to grow
live that we want our children to grow
live that we want our children to grow in we do not immerse ourselves in
in we do not immerse ourselves in
in we do not immerse ourselves in national politics the diverse nature of
national politics the diverse nature of
national politics the diverse nature of national politics what we do is we find
national politics what we do is we find
national politics what we do is we find practical solutions to local problems we
practical solutions to local problems we
practical solutions to local problems we have a shared vision that vision can be
have a shared vision that vision can be
have a shared vision that vision can be articulated by our community leaders
articulated by our community leaders
articulated by our community leaders we have true community leaders and
we have true community leaders and
we have true community leaders and committed citizens and it’s not really
committed citizens and it’s not really
committed citizens and it’s not really so important that they be somebody from
so important that they be somebody from
so important that they be somebody from a captain of industry or somebody from
a captain of industry or somebody from
a captain of industry or somebody from government what’s important is that we
government what’s important is that we
government what’s important is that we have them and we know who they are and
have them and we know who they are and
have them and we know who they are and that these individuals are committed for
that these individuals are committed for
that these individuals are committed for the good of our community in ways that
the good of our community in ways that
the good of our community in ways that kind of the ways that are different than
kind of the ways that are different than
kind of the ways that are different than just about private investment we use
just about private investment we use
just about private investment we use incentives to move forward the public
incentives to move forward the public
incentives to move forward the public interest incentives create Economic
interest incentives create Economic
interest incentives create Economic Opportunity incentives drive
Opportunity incentives drive
Opportunity incentives drive redevelopment in our neighborhoods and
redevelopment in our neighborhoods and
redevelopment in our neighborhoods and our downtown’s but they are always
our downtown’s but they are always
our downtown’s but they are always applied appropriately and they’re always
applied appropriately and they’re always
applied appropriately and they’re always applied in a manner that moves the
applied in a manner that moves the
applied in a manner that moves the public will the public interest in a
public will the public interest in a
public will the public interest in a positive and appropriate way that we
positive and appropriate way that we
positive and appropriate way that we have reasonable regulations that those
have reasonable regulations that those
have reasonable regulations that those rate regulations cause good development
rate regulations cause good development
rate regulations cause good development that those regulations protect the
that those regulations protect the
that those regulations protect the environment that we have true
environment that we have true
environment that we have true public/private partnerships that is the
public/private partnerships that is the
public/private partnerships that is the city working with the county the city
city working with the county the city
city working with the county the city working with the state the city working
working with the state the city working
working with the state the city working with a foundation and that those
with a foundation and that those
with a foundation and that those individuals are collaborative and they
individuals are collaborative and they
individuals are collaborative and they produce real results we have an exciting
produce real results we have an exciting
produce real results we have an exciting sustainable downtown a downtown is is
sustainable downtown a downtown is is
sustainable downtown a downtown is is kind of an interesting concept but the
kind of an interesting concept but the
kind of an interesting concept but the downtown brings identity and Association
downtown brings identity and Association
downtown brings identity and Association to a community we have school systems
to a community we have school systems
to a community we have school systems that are engaged but more importantly
that are engaged but more importantly
that are engaged but more importantly our school system has to teach our young
our school system has to teach our young
our school system has to teach our young people the skills that they need for a
people the skills that they need for a
people the skills that they need for a rapidly changing job market they’ve got
rapidly changing job market they’ve got
rapidly changing job market they’ve got to be dynamic they should be unusual and
to be dynamic they should be unusual and
to be dynamic they should be unusual and they should be challenging diversity and
they should be challenging diversity and
they should be challenging diversity and the concept of diversity is welcome we
the concept of diversity is welcome we
the concept of diversity is welcome we share ideas we have all kinds of
share ideas we have all kinds of
share ideas we have all kinds of interesting and fun things
interesting and fun things
interesting and fun things to do for the worst calls to a community
to do for the worst calls to a community
to do for the worst calls to a community is the loss of young people to other
is the loss of young people to other
is the loss of young people to other places because we are not inclusive are
places because we are not inclusive are
places because we are not inclusive are an interesting place to live and finally
an interesting place to live and finally
an interesting place to live and finally I think one of the most incredibly
I think one of the most incredibly
I think one of the most incredibly important tools and it’s very similar to
important tools and it’s very similar to
important tools and it’s very similar to sort of the real estate maxium of
sort of the real estate maxium of
sort of the real estate maxium of location Location Location you have got
location Location Location you have got
location Location Location you have got to co-op cooperate cooperate cooperate
to co-op cooperate cooperate cooperate
to co-op cooperate cooperate cooperate these traits are my dream for our
these traits are my dream for our
these traits are my dream for our community Florence South Carolina has
community Florence South Carolina has
community Florence South Carolina has come a long way in a very short period
come a long way in a very short period
come a long way in a very short period of time it has it has taken a lot of
of time it has it has taken a lot of
of time it has it has taken a lot of people working very long hours with a
people working very long hours with a
people working very long hours with a vision to cause that to happen but we
vision to cause that to happen but we
vision to cause that to happen but we still have a very long way way to go and
still have a very long way way to go and
still have a very long way way to go and that is my dream my dream is to work in
that is my dream my dream is to work in
that is my dream my dream is to work in a place where people set aside partisan
a place where people set aside partisan
a place where people set aside partisan politics they know when they need to
politics they know when they need to
politics they know when they need to check their a ego and we move forward
check their a ego and we move forward
check their a ego and we move forward our community and a positive and real
our community and a positive and real
our community and a positive and real way that is my dream thank you
”
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