THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALL PLACES

 

Bringing back interest to our cities is a hot topic. Too often overlooked are the value of small unique places. Ones that set the place apart from others.

Katarina Mall in her article “Capitalism in the Cracks” for Reason Magazine addresses this challenge well. She describes how Japan works with districts to promote all types of enterprise, especially in the small places including alleys often not possible with city planning in this country.

Think back on a recent visit to another city, what do you remember about it. Was it the giant development that squashed a neighborhood just for another strip mall or ditto market. Maybe, but more likely it is for a unique place you found. Often, these are small places. 

It mighr be Sun May Co. a tiny asian gift shop at 5 Canton Alley S in Seattle, or Commonwealth Used Books at 9 Spring Lane in Boston, or Daiso a Japanese variety store in the basement under an escalator of the old Woolworth building in Vancouver, or Collectors Nook a stamp store located near a Manuscript Museum no one has heard about in Tacoma. Or it may simply be a News Paper Stand that has operated for ever in the side door nook of another store.

All these places fuel interest and draw for a place. Katarina points out wisely that most of these places find it hard to find space to operate. At fault is often the local zoning laws. Those laws favoring larger developments and not niche places that will add to and not destroy the nature of a district.

So you hope for city planners understanding the importance and potential for small places. You can make a case that these may deserve as much support and tax breaks as larger developments. After all the unique lingers in the mind, adds character and most importantly draw you back to a place.