I'm just picking-over the (fish)bones of the High Streets Task Force like a city centre seagull! Those of you involved in one of the 149 High Streets that the Task Force assisted -and those like me, who provided some of the assistance- should be familar with this fishbone diagram summarising causes and solutions for town and city centre upheaval.
One of the things that I most liked about the Task Force since the outset, was its focus on the 'how' of town and city centre revitalisation, as well as the 'what'. Words like 'data', 'activation', 'communication' and 'governanace' in the fishbone summary are testimony to this. As it closes its virtual door, I find it fascinating to reflect about how and if this focus might live on.
It has been great to see the focus on place leadership and inclusive partnerships as a constant throughout the Task Force’s activity. This is what I will most look for in the forthcoming sharing of lessons learned that can hopefully inform future support for the renewal of our town and city centres.
It is great that the work of the last five years has championed and gathered evidence about the important role of place leaders, whether from the community, sympathetic businesses, or public services. Such local leadership can be key to developing and delivering compelling town centre visions and the creation and evolution of successful place partnerships.
Evolving and resilient local partnership models can hopefully provide the framework for the ongoing reimagining and revitalisation of our town and city centres. Community empowerment and close working relations with local authorities, backed by mentored organisational development, have been strengths of the Task Force’s focus that I would like to be prominent in its legacy.
My burning question now, is how will this foundation of learning be built-on? Contrary to myths proported in so many 'succession strategies', my experience is that the impacts of even the most successful initiatives, will wain without some continuity or championing of the cause. I would like to see some 'flesh put on the bones' of what a successor approach might involve. After all, it is no less than we would expect from a resiliant, local partnership!
#towncentres #highstreets #citycentres #revitalisation #communityempowerment #localleadership #learning #succession
Working at the intersection of Global and Local to Increase Livability and Protect the Planet | Advocacy | Program Design | Facilitation | Community Wellbeing | International Development
8moWalkability is a great feature if most traditional downtowns and neighborhood business districts. With demand for walkable neighborhoods about 40-50% yet walkable places at about 2% (PEW & CNU studies) all improvements to increase range of walkability enhance the downtown experience. #walkrollbike 🚴🏾♀️👨🏽🦼👩🏻🦯🚶🏽♀️