Historic Preservation and Downtown Revitalization: How Does the Georgia Main Street Program Affect the Population Size, Racial Makeup, Median Household Income, and Retail Sales of Designated Cities?

Abstract

Main streets and downtowns across the United States have experienced a steady decline in activity due to the popularity of shopping centers and the expansion of highway systems. The Main Street America program is a popular method of downtown revitalization that utilizes historic preservation techniques to improve cities and communities. This program emphasizes economic vitality and community development but how well does it the improve communities and cities as a whole? Does the implementation of this program cause significant demographic or socioeconomic changes in these communities and cities