Rebuilding downtown: The importance of activity generators in downtown revitalization

This paper looks at recent history of small-metro downtowns, examining their fall from prominence and attempts at revitalization.  The paper suggests activity generators, such as events, venues and attractions, are vital parts of the initial focus of downtown revitalization attempts where office-building employment has remained strong but a disconnect has emerged between the office workers and the rest of the downtown. The impact of activity generators is explored via a case study of London, Ontario. The case study concludes that financial incentives are insufficient on their own but play an important supporting role when paired with effective activity generators. Keywords: downtowns, urban revitalization, farmers markets, public libraries, revitalization, sporting events