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Coal 2: Help existing places thrive <br />Take care of assets and investments <br />such as downtowns, infrastructure, <br />and places that the community <br />values. <br />All communities can benefit from building on and <br />enhancing previous investments — whether that is a <br />once vibrant but now underutilized Main Street, an <br />existing street grid that could once again provide the <br />framework for a walkable neighborhood, or historic <br />buildings and iconic rural architecture such as barns <br />and bridges that are worth preserving and possibly <br />reusing. Development that leverages future economic <br />value out of these prior investments can be the foun- <br />dation for helping existing places thrive. <br />Public investments can maintain existing infra- <br />structure and buildings to extend their useful life <br />while also supporting appropriate new growth that <br />is targeted in places to make the best use of existing <br />infrastructure. Formally articulating the relationship <br />between these resources and other community goals <br />can further help residents and investors understand <br />the value of these unique resources. In the absence <br />of a community strategy to support existing places, <br />infrastructure dollars may be inadvertently allocated to <br />GOAL 2: HELP EXISTING PLACES THRIVE <br />106 <br />support development that encourages historic property <br />demolition or speeds up the conversion of working <br />lands from rural uses to those that support large -scale <br />residential or commercial uses. <br />Creating a policy structure to take care of existing <br />assets and investments can help preserve, reuse, and <br />position historic buildings to anchor new investment. <br />It can also help redevelop brownfields and vacant <br />properties to accommodate growth as well as allow <br />existing businesses to receive the support they need to <br />retain workers and expand to meet new needs. <br />Strategy 2.a. Invest public and private funds <br />in existing places <br />Fix -it -first <br />Communities can employ a "fix -it- first" approach to <br />infrastructure spending in order to help existing places <br />thrive. A fix -it -first approach means that communities <br />will prioritize public funding to repair, restore, and <br />conduct preventive maintenance on existing infra- <br />structure, including buildings, roads, and water and <br />sewer lines, before building new infrastructure. This <br />approach can encourage and attract development in <br />areas that are already served by existing infrastructure, <br />making existing communities more vibrant and saving <br />on future maintenance costs. This approach can also <br />Strategy Tools & Policies <br />2.a. Invest public and private funds in Fix -it -first • Streets and streetscape improvements <br />existing places Historic Preservation and the Main • Targeted new development <br />Street Approach <br />• Parks and natural resource areas as <br />destinations <br />2.b. Encourage private sector investment Infill development incentives Redevelopment readiness certification <br />• Overcoming barriers to infill Split-rate tax <br />2.c. Build on past community investments Adaptive reuse School rehabilitation <br />2.d. Foster economic development in Local business survey Business recognition program <br />existing downtowns <br />