It’s so disorienting to walk into a favorite store to grab something and find the store has been rearranged. You can’t easily find what you came to buy. It’s frustrating.
Most of us are creatures of habit. We love our routines. They form our comfort zones and make us feel secure. That’s why a lot of us resist change. Yet change is the only real constant in this world.
It’s likely that when man first discovered how to use fire, the people he lived with were horrified. Their arguments against it were probably quite similar to the complaints people make today when faced with change. It’s not necessary. It’s too different. It’s scary. The cost is too high. Things are fine as they are. Yet, it’s impossible to imagine life today without using fire.
Nothing ever improves without change. As the adage goes, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got.” We simply need to understand and accept why change is necessary and how it can improve our lives.
Since change is inevitable, the real questions are, how do we make things better without causing too much angst for too many people in the process? Where is the common ground? How do we make and keep everyone happy?
People resist change primarily because they fear the unknown. They don’t understand why change is needed. It’s even worse when no one asks for their input before making a change. This often results in skepticism, worry, and angry push-back. One frequent complaint is money. People don’t like seeing their tax dollars spent. They don’t realize that our tax dollars are all designated for specific purposes. If we don’t apply for the funds, the money will be spent on some other community. We’re lucky we have people savvy enough to develop plans so good they are chosen for funding. Rather than complaining, we should be eternally grateful for their efforts on our behalf.
That’s why people need to understand the reasons for any change and how it will benefit them.
There are always proactive leaders behind any positive change. They are the people who refuse to sit back and watch their community assets slowly wither. They decide to do something before it’s too late. They organize and embrace a collaborative can-do attitude.
One local example of positive change can be seen along the three miles of Central Avenue that connects the city of Dunkirk and the village of Fredonia. Improvements were made at both ends and all along the corridor. The pier in Dunkirk and Barker Commons in Fredonia are now more attractive and inviting. Beautiful new crosswalks at some of the biggest intersections improved public safety. There are street banners on light poles. More changes are coming because we are lucky to have caring people in both communities. For example, soon, we will have access to ride-share scooters.
This came about because local leaders connected with the School of Architecture and Planning at the University at Buffalo Regional Institute to develop a visionary plan for the Central Connection in 2016. Among the recommendations was the need to focus economic development efforts on existing historic corridors and downtowns to create vibrant and pedestrian-oriented places. What better place to start with than with Central Avenue?
They decided to capitalize on the downtowns, waterfront, and college as economic drivers to fuel local businesses. They strengthened access to recreational activities such as fishing, biking, boating, and festivals. We’re also starting to see better connectivity between the trails in the area. All of these efforts impact our quality of life and makes the area worth visiting. This could ultimately spur growth outside our downtowns. That could bolster the area’s tax base.
The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation’s Local Economic Development committee strongly supports the people in our community that are working hard to make our communities safe, healthy, and vibrant.
Recognizing that this sometimes requires change is essential. As Charles Kettering, the famous inventor and General Motors engineer, noted, “The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.”
Patty Hammond is the Economic Development Coordinator for the Local Economic Development committee.