Right-Sizing Cities: A Look at Five Cities

The right-sizing concept in planning practice is a relatively new concept in contrast to previous orientations of planned growth. Right-sizing recognizes that some shrinking cities will continue to shrink and it would be advantageous for these cities to plan for this shrinkage. One of the key indicators of success of a planned effort, such as right-sizing, is city fiscal health. This article includes a multiple case analysis of five cities which are shrinking and right-sizing. The purpose of the cases is to highlight the right-sizing conception of planning and any possible linkages right-sizing has with fiscal health.