'If you build it, they will come." That's often the thinking behind big projects like amusement parks, shopping malls, tourism venues and sports arenas. Sometimes a new facility attracts many visitors, investors make a profit, or a government agency delivers substantial benefits to the public. Sometimes not.
When it comes to our old landscapes, villages and vintage towns, however, the "build, build, build" philosophy is not the right way to go. Instead, success means preserving what's already there.
