Highlighted Resource: Amenity Trap report

In May 2023, Headwaters Economics released an insightful report - Amenity Trap: How high-amenity communities can avoid being loved to death. This report captures the paradox of a place with natural attractions that make it a great place to live but also threaten it with being “loved to death” (known as the amenity trap). From the report's Executive Summary:

More than ever, people are visiting and moving to places with inspiring natural amenities: forests, lakes, beaches, trails, and wildlife. The influx of tourists and new residents into these cities and small towns brings economic opportunities and can create a positive feedback loop whereby new businesses and services make a place even more attractive. It can also come with serious drawbacks.

More people and new development can put pressures on existing infrastructure and contribute to growing inequality, including dramatic increases in housing costs that force long-time residents out or into the crisis of homelessness. Fiscal health, public discourse, and community well-being can be overcome with challenges.

The paradox of a place with natural attractions that make it a great place to live but also threaten it with being “loved to death” is what is known as the amenity trap.

The amenity trap is confounding more communities across the United States than ever before. This report offers a detailed examination of the problem by highlighting the challenges of housing, infrastructure, fiscal policy, and natural disasters. It also explores proven solutions from amenity communities across the country that leaders can adopt as they try to circumvent the problems caused by rapid growth in population and tourism.

You can find the document included in our Background Resources here.