Case Study:
Dowagiac, Michigan
Located in southwestern Michigan, Dowagiac has almost been forgotten by outsiders. Located on the historically important Michigan Central railroad line running from Detroit to Chicago, it had previously been along the path of progress. The downtown's "front" is still formed by the railroad tracks, with important industries located just across the tracks. With no major highway links, Dowagiac lost much of its status with the decreasing importance of the railroad and increased dependence of highway transportation. Local industries brought prosperity to the community during and after World War II, but their post-war attrition brought a general decline to the local economy. The downtown had been in a slow decline through the 1980s. An older Woolworth's store remained open and, as one merchant explained, brought in more customers than all the other downtown businesses combined.
Dowagiac's demographics represent a poorer community. Dowagiac's residents have a low median value for housing ($31,400), as well as a low percentage of high school and college graduates (62.5% and 7.7%).
Few sustained efforts had been made to improve the downtown until a Downtown Development Authority was established in the mid-1980s. In its first year the DDA had a substantial improvements budget. By 1992, it had funded and completed construction of a new downtown streetscape on Front Street, the primary retail street. The streetscape was designed to complement the historic character of the downtown, and seemed to generate a new sense of pride and optimism among local merchants. This led to other plans for improvements in the downtown area, including an outdoor amphitheater, a new farmers market pavilion, and reconstruction of the parking areas. These improvements brought substantial change to the downtown, creating a positive attitude among both merchants and city officials, and seems to have led to renewed economic vigor.
