The Amenity Trap

Join us for a solution-focused evening to learn what an "amenity trap" economy is and how other communities are approaching the growth-based challenges they create.Outdoor recreation, tourism, and the pandemic-related “zoom-boom” are driving growth in many Western communities. While the influx of new residents and visitors can create economic opportunities, it can also create significant stress on a community, including labor shortages, housing affordability challenges, and unequal economic opportunities. Rapid growth creates an outsized burden on infrastructure and local government systems and can contribute to sprawl and the loss of open space. As a result, community cohesion and identity can shift, and the amenities that draw people to a place can be eroded. In the face of growth, how can a community avoid being loved to death?

Communities across the West are confronting the challenges of amenity-driven growth with innovative policies and initiatives, from tax reform to local funding strategies, from housing initiatives to land use and conservation tools. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but our research identifies best practices for communities facing the trade-offs that come with rapid growth.

Join us for presentation and discussion led by our friends Samantha Estabrook and Megan Lawson from Headwaters Economics, and guest speakers City Commissioner Christopher Coburn and HRDC’s Lila Fleishman. Together, we will learn more about what it means to live in an “Amenity Trap” driven economy and discuss ideas and solutions for the challenges that accompany inevitable growth.

We have room for 100 guests. Please RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a...