downtown” model. Unlike tourist-centric cores, Brockton’s center offers a practical and appealing mix. “We have a hardware store, a butcher, and we have some excellent restaurants,” Peabody explains. “As downtowns go, we have a great mix… it’s also a very thriving, working downtown.” This diversity ensures steady local patronage. Brockton’s success is fiercely protected. The municipality’s innovative approach to the Durham Street Bridge repair, fixing one lane at a time to avoid a two-year shutdown, exemplifies this commitment. “I think it’s very important to support your downtown and find alternative solutions,” the Mayor asserts. A THRIVING AND ADAPTIVE DOWNTOWN CORE The health of Brockton’s downtown core in Walkerton serves as a real-time barometer of its overall economic vitality. While some cycling of businesses occurs, vacancy is not a persistent issue. “We had two stores leave and they’re already filled,” states Peabody. A new multi-chair barbershop is moving in, a service he notes had “disappeared from most downtowns for quite a few years,” alongside a newly expanded women’s clothing store. This resilience stems from a deliberate “working 72 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
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