9. ORGANIC GROWTH CITIES

“Organic Growth Cities,” a Top Trend for 2018, celebrates the rebirth of down and out towns struggling through hard economic times.

In nations around the world, during the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing centers blossomed in regions rich in natural resources, ports, waterways and rail lines that were vital for production and distribution. When the Industrial Age died, so too did many of these communities.

But now they are coming back. Why? Many people moving back to these old-time towns want to escape the congestion of large metropolitan areas that have also become too unaffordable to live in.

And now with new families and young professionals looking for the feel of a big city outside of an actual big city, in this online world of telecommuting, there is a big move to high-end small towns.

Although the factories have closed and the Main Streets were beaten down, what has been left behind is now being both valued and restored by these new young up-and-comers who value locations within striking distance of airports, urban centers and major cities. They are attracted to these rich history cities with magnificent buildings and desirable natural surroundings.

What makes these cities organic is that they are growing naturally without relying on industries, resources or transportation hubs to support them.

TREND FORECAST: States, cities and towns that develop new economic models to promote themselves as tourist destinations, attractive bedroom communities, or other niches can realize sustained population and economic growth.

Moreover, in a world saturated in corporate sameness – formulated music, art, entertainment, shopping and dining – the hometown touch that delivers products and services with home-style appeal and in authentic settings is an “Organic Growth Cities” trend you can bank on.

Comments (3)

Knoxville Tennessee and surrounding area is a leading trend.

December 13, 2017 Anonymous

Indeed many towns, and trendy city neighborhoods, have gentrified. But the race to gentrify versus falling apart has been a losing race for the past few decades. Without a strong tourist attraction to create service jobs that sustain people to make a living, it’s difficult for cities and towns to operate on just the service industry alone. The original model of a perfect self-sustaining area is 1) Primary: resources 2) Secondary: manufacturing and construction… both of which automatically lead to creating >>> 3) Tertiary: Service industry. National and Global trading is the obvious reason for towns and cities, let alone entire countries, to be able to survive without a proper balance of these three sectors. However, when I finished my Urban Studies University Major over 25 years ago, I saw the ridiculous bad placement of budget money at levels of Government. What startled me the most was the municipal level Government, and how crooked things were. My goal was to become part of the city council, but later scrapped the idea knowing that these pundits are in a voting committee and often vote in favor of incorrect land use zoning and infrastructure advancement where needed. I agree that a model does exist to make a town work on Tertiary jobs alone, but many businesses will always be at risk because the sense of ‘community’ and ‘values’ no longer genuinely exist. Yes, even Millennials would crave the idea of being part of a community, but in today’s standards that would be a superficial meaning compared to the deep valued meaning of the past. People would have no shame in just getting up and leaving the town to try a new life in a different city… after all, they arrived just as easily to the community in the first place – easy come, easy go. Long-term healthy low-risk (economically) communities can exist, but it’s going to be almost impossible without a smaller Government, better Government implementation, and of course less corruption.

January 30, 2018 Anonymous

What are some examples that are considered “Organic Growth Cities?”

February 4, 2018 Anonymous

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