Uncovering Individuality
Communities must assess what makes them unique

A friend of mine from a mid-sized city was talking about the time his car was stolen. In the middle of the night, the phone rang. It was the police. His car had been found in the parking lot of a well-known “super retail center” – right under a big, bright floodlight.

“I guess everyone eventually ends up at that supercenter,” he said. “Even thieves.”

There’s no question that megastores have created shopping meccas all across America – and for good reason. They’re convenient and generally cheaper to shop. They also can help a community. By increasing a community’s retail business, they bring in more people, more ancillary business and more revenue streams.

But he had a lament: the loss of unique local stores, particularly in the downtown area. Small, family-owned restaurants, for example, are being swallowed up, unable to compete with chains of every type and price range – from the drive-thrus to the sit-down bar/restaurant hybrids that are becoming social hubs.

“Whatever the impact it’s having on our city, though, it seems like everyone likes those big boxes. Those parking lots look like they’re always full,” he said. “And that means one thing: We have to learn how to adapt.”

It’s true – but in a world of ubiquitous golden arches, blue light specials and streets literally ringed by a chain of chains, how do you retain a city’s uniqueness? How do you jump on the conveyer belt of mass consumerism but still have time to step off every now and then in pursuit of mom and pop’s place?

Retaining uniqueness is not just a human need. It’s also a community need. Who among us doesn’t spend our lives seeking to find our own unique special gifts and then develop them to make a mark on the world?

I remember well my advice to my sons when they mourned the fact that they were not NBA basketball material. I told them that each of them had a special gift and it was their responsibility to both find it and share it with the world. That’s how you find peace and happiness, I told them.

The same is true for communities. The places that stick in our memories are those that have unique features. Whether it’s a restaurant with a wonderful host or the wigwam village near Mammoth Cave that exudes fun, it’s personality and individuality that leave visitors with lasting memories. Meanwhile, for its residents, a city’s unique charm elevates their quality of life.

The flip side, of course, is that we also have a lasting memory of things that give us a uniquely bad experience.

Since most of us want to retain the friendliness and community flavor of our hometowns but also want to enjoy the benefits of “big,” how do we strike a balance? How do we get the best of both worlds: cheap prices and predictable quality, but also unique offerings and individual beauty? That uniqueness is something that makes people gladly pay to enjoy themselves on their own vacations and getaways.

Local citizens can do it by assessing their communities and uncovering those special attributes – so they can be showcased. Perhaps it involves restoring a beautiful historic downtown district or attraction. Perhaps it means establishing a social and service “event” such as an outdoor farmers market that features local produce and products.

Not that this all has to be about history and preservation – or unique events. Communities can also attract visitors and revenue by enhancing their overall look, by pressuring developers to include unique architectural features into new buildings and provide public spaces.

Quality is never a bad thing to pursue. Owensboro, for instance, might have its full share of drive-thrus, but it’s known for some hometown barbecue joints that have attracted people for decades.

In short, anything that makes a place more livable is an invaluable asset. Embracing the megastores and chain restaurants doesn’t mean you have to discard things that are unique to the community. Indeed, you can set yourself apart. By doing so, you make life more livable for locals and more attractive for visitors.

That’s the big and small of it. It’s not only the best of both worlds. It’s the best thing that can happen for both worlds.

Sylvia L. Lovely is executive director and CEO of the Kentucky League of Cities.
editorial@lanereport.com

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