Chico, CA: A Strong Towns Perspective on Downtown Chico
Downtown Chico is being reimagined. Moments like this often bring big questions, strong opinions, and a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
How do changes to streets and transportation affect how people experience downtown? What helps a downtown remain active and easy to access as priorities evolve? How can a community respond thoughtfully as plans move from ideas to reality?
This presentation, led by Norm van Eeden Petersman is designed to help residents, merchants, and local leaders better understand how downtowns tend to function during periods of transition, what tradeoffs are involved in transportation and access decisions, and how small choices can shape long-term outcomes. Drawing on examples from other cities, Norm will discuss how downtowns adapt over time and what helps them stay resilient and productive.
Rather than promoting a single outcome, the talk focuses on learning. How do small decisions compound over time? What assumptions deserve a closer look? How can a community stay attentive to real-world impacts as change unfolds?
