How To Become A 'Hip' Town

The oft-forgotten story of how a hip town came to be that way.

Though the developers are in the spotlight these days, cute and trendy Saratoga Springs, NY, was brought back from the brink by citizen activists--and important history for those addressing the new challenges of growth.

In 1973, Saratoga Springs was more than a little worse for wear: Sidewalks were crumbling, the few remaining elm trees on Broadway were dying, flophouses and shuttered buildings were not uncommon. Strip malls sprouted up in spots where glorious buildings from the city's golden age had been razed. Visitors — what few there were — would have been hard-pressed to detect any promise of the distinctive landscaping, cleanliness and well-kept buildings that Saratoga boasts today. >Link