2024 Fall Issue of Urban Land - 96

Charting
a Path
Forward for
Aberdeen,
South
Dakota
Small towns renew by
deploying smart strategies
that embrace the past
DAN NOBLE
Aberdeen, South dAkotA'S rich
history as a bustling hub with a vibrant
downtown provides a strong foundation
for revitalization. Historic photos of Main
Street from the early 1900s could easily
be mistaken for scenes from Brooklyn,
New York, of the same era. Understanding
why the town moved away from
this dynamic core, and lost its historical
vibrancy, is essential.
The decline in rail transportation and
the shift to highway travel in the 20th
century led to population stagnation
in Aberdeen and countless other small
towns just like it. The good news is that
this historical vibrancy offers a blueprint
for Aberdeen's renaissance. By drawing
inspiration from its past-when the
central district was alive with commerce
and community-Aberdeen can restore its
downtown as a modern place of creativity
and connection.
Rather than viewing its relatively small
population of 28,000 residents as a challenge
to overcome, Aberdeen should
embrace it. Not every place has to keep
growing in population to stay healthy.
Unlike cities overwhelmed by rapid, often
generic growth, Aberdeen can capitalize
on its small-town charm, tranquility,
and simpler lifestyle to attract those who
seek escape from urban complications. By
emphasizing its community-oriented lifestyle,
Aberdeen can attract new residents
who value quality of life over the hustle
and bustle of city living.
Reconnecting with the past
Unfortunately, many of Aberdeen's significant,
craft-built structures have been lost
to history, erasing irreplaceable parts of its
architectural heritage. They were evidence
that small prairie towns often aspired to
become great cities. By reconnecting with
key aspects of this unique historical identity
to blend past and present, Aberdeen
can create a lively, mixed-use environment
that attracts both locals and visitors. Thus,
Aberdeen can celebrate its rich heritage
while embracing innovation, making the
city a hub of culture, history, and creativity.
By
reimagining its downtown with a
dense, mixed-use core that combines residential,
commercial, and cultural spaces,
Aberdeen can re-create the vitality that
once defined its streets. This approach
fosters community connections and
makes downtown a lively hub for living,
working, and socializing.
Establishing creative spaces like the
Cramer Center of Design and Innovation
(CCDI) at Northern State University is
another critical component of Aberdeen's
proposed transformation. These existing
spaces can be used to attract artists,
researchers, and entrepreneurs, nurturing
a community of creative minds. By
fostering collaboration and innovation,
Aberdeen can position itself as a hub for
creativity in the region.
Aberdeen offers an exceptionally
affordable cost of living, particularly in
home ownership, with a median home
price of $265,000. This affordability
presents a compelling opportunity for
creatives and young families. Coupled
with the potential of the CCDI and the
flexibility of remote work, Aberdeen could
become an attractive destination. The
combination of affordable living and a
supportive creative community could conceivably
appeal to tech companies looking
to relocate employees from larger cities
such as Minneapolis-St. Paul or Kansas
City. Imagine a remote-work-oriented
tech company aggregating real estate
in Aberdeen and offering it as a benefit
to employees, whether they're in remote
health diagnostics, insurance adjusting, or
AI-driven fields. This outcome would be a
win-win, providing a high quality of life for
employees while driving Aberdeen's economic
and cultural growth.
Improving public transportation and
The Summer Concert Palooza 2021 brought throngs of visitors to Aberdeen and
energized its downtown.
96
URBAN LAND
FALL 202 4
walkability is also essential. In a reflection
of Aberdeen's bygone streetcar era, modernizing
public transportation and creating
pedestrian-friendly spaces, particularly
SMUGMUG. COM
2024 Fall Issue of Urban Land

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