SKS Partners’ Post

Attractive streets attract more people! Amenity improvements to high streets – such as planting, outdoor dining, wider footpaths, and slower speeds – can generate an estimated 22% more revenue for businesses across the street. It makes sense when we consider that many high streets have highly localised catchments. Who wouldn't want to visit and spend longer in streets that are quieter, less dangerous, shadier and prettier! Read more about this work here https://lnkd.in/gcu_88FQ What high street would you nominate to be made more attractive and how? Richard Gibbs John Parnell Hayley Cavanagh Amelia Thorpe Harri Bancroft

Let’s Talk Downtown ! When I imagine a “Downtown.” - I see nice clean, wide sidewalks full of people - I see well cared for buildings with community art and murals - I see colourful plantings in flower boxes and hanging baskets, and ample shade trees - I see benches where people can sit and chat while having a snack - I see bike lanes and pedestrian only streets - I see open doors and merchandise on the spacious sidewalks - I see no cars parked along the side where decorative planters separate the roadway from all the traffic - In some spots I see sidewalk patios where folks can have a meal and a beverage Downtowns should be a place for people first and not seen as a storage space for automobiles. We spend so much time focused on parking spaces in front of stores. Downtowns should be colourful and comfortable spaces to walk and shop and meet friends and neighbours. A professional parking strategist once told me that parking should be located in central locations away from store fronts either behind or in nearby bulk parking areas. I wonder what your vision of “Downtown” looks like ? Placemaking is about creating inviting spaces for people not cars. Let’s reimagine our Downtowns.

Unleash Your Space's Potential - Let's Find the Perfect Tenant!? Count on us to secure the ideal tenant. Whether it's for retail, restaurants, schools, co-working spaces, and more – We've got your back! Get in touch with us to know more. #commercial #commercialleasing #commercialpropertyforsale #commercialrealestate #coworking #coworkingspace #coworkingcommunity #retailproperty #retailspace #retaildevelopment #retailleasing #school #landlords

How important is it to boost the identity and brand of neighbourhoods, small towns or places that play second fiddle to the main attraction? On an Easter outing to London we could’ve gone for coffee to Starbucks on the South Bank though the mix of businesses along Waterloo’s Lower Marsh looked a much more enticing prospect. Great to take a moment to experience first-hand something of the placemaking and place branding led by WeAreWaterloo Business Improvement District (BID). It’s an example of the importance of establishing an identity and brand for smaller neighbourhoods and high streets that sit alongside major destinations such as London’s South Bank and of course Waterloo’s namesake train station. I think that such localised branding is more about complementing than competing. It should engage the local community, its businesses and institutions to embrace a shared identity. It’s an opportunity to boost civic pride and add to the authenticity and variety showcased to visitors. We love the open vistas and buzz of the South Bank, though great to be signposted to the sanctuary of (S)Lower Marsh and its range of independent traders. In my humble opinion, the coffees and salted beef bagels from Greensmiths Deli are better than their counterparts shaped in Seattle! #placemaking #placebranding #highstreets #towncentres #waterloo #londonboroughs

Accessible & equitable urbanism absolutely includes public toilets! Big kudos to local author Hannah Palmer for writing about this for the How I'd Fix Atlanta series! Atlanta needs public toilets. They're a part of the urban fabric in many great cities but we've failed to invest in them on the scale we should. QUOTE: "Because investing in public toilets is a challenge for every city, they can be an interesting marker of our cultural values. Forget comparing Atlanta to global capitals like Tokyo, with its playful and sculptural public toilets (so great, in fact, that they were the backdrop of an Oscar-nominated art film), or Paris, which has more than 400 standalone “sanisettes.” According to the indispensable Public Toilet Index, Atlanta falls short when compared to southern cities like Raleigh or Miami or Charlotte. It calculates a measly four toilets per 100,000 people here." https://lnkd.in/e7dbkPFB

Choosing the right location is just as important as finding the perfect home. 📍🏡 Think beyond the house itself—look at what’s nearby. 🚌📚🏫🎓 Are there quality schools for the kids? 🌳🏞️🛝🛹 Parks for weekend fun? 🚌🚇🛒🛍️ Easy access to public transport and shopping? A great location not only enhances your daily life but also boosts your property’s value over time. 🤗 Always remember, you can renovate a house, but you can’t change its location! 📍📍📍 #realestatetips #realestateperth

Walking in downtowns and districts. Why do we choose to walk? Especially, in downtowns? Why do some places not invite a leisurely stroll, but instead encourage the desire to drive and park right in front of your destination in a downtown or district? The issue with people not wanting to walk in a downtown or district Is multifaceted, but if you look at places where they do walk , things become clearer. For example, the reason people are willing to walk in many of our big cities such as Chicago or Toronto is because they perceive the walk to their destination to be INTERESTING, visually and experientially. There are things to see from your arrival (parking or disembarkment ) point until your destination. Interesting storefronts, passageways, and repurposed alleys add to a pleasurable walk. Improvements to downtown streetscapes including rethinking the street space via improvements like broader sidewalks, replacement of parking spaces with dining spaces, and multi-modal (bike, scooter)parking zones make accessing downtowns and walking more appealing. This rethinking of the street space will aid businesses in their visibility also. Making the journey interesting makes the downtown interesting. #walkabledowntowns

Placemaking is about shaping public spaces collaboratively to enrich their shared value. It's about crafting environments that foster the well-being and happiness of every member of our community. As I explore deeper into this subject during my summer school at CEPT University, guided by Prof. Jennifer Jalal, I've focused on Amritsar as a case study. In my article for the "Happy Spaces = Happy City: The Role of Placemaking" course, I shed light on both successful and less effective placemaking endeavors. The feedback from reviewers has been positive, appreciating the balanced critique and the inclusion of local examples. I'm eager to further investigate how intentional placemaking can truly transform our cities and communities for the better! #Placemaking #UrbanDesign #Amritsar #CityPlanning #Community #SustainableDesign #HappySpaces

I’m going to take you on a tour of @mcmenaminskennedyschool , but first, let’s talk about why! ☝🏻 🏫 Adaptive reuse, is a concept in urban real estate development and architecture where existing buildings, often historic or obsolete, are repurposed for new uses rather than being demolished. Adaptive reuse helps preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of structures while meeting modern needs in a sustainable way. It’s commonly applied to old factories, schools, warehouses, and churches, transforming them into spaces like apartments, hotels, restaurants, or cultural centers. McMenamins Pubs & Breweries is a Pacific Northwest-based hospitality company known for its unique approach to adaptive reuse. Instead of constructing new facilities, they focus on restoring and transforming old, often neglected properties—such as schools, hotels, theaters, and even churches—into vibrant spaces that combine art, culture, and community. Their projects typically incorporate restaurants, breweries, movie theaters, and event spaces, while maintaining the original architectural charm and historical significance of the buildings. 🏚️ ♻️Notable examples of their work include: • Kennedy School (#portland ): A former elementary school turned into a hotel, restaurant, and pub, with classrooms converted into guest rooms and a gymnasium repurposed as an event space. • Edgefield (Troutdale, OR): @edgefieldmcmenamins A former poor farm transformed into a large resort that includes a hotel, spa, brewery, winery, and golf course, while preserving much of the original layout and architecture. McMenamins also incorporates original artwork, murals, and historical displays into their projects, adding a personalized and locally-rooted narrative to each site. Their upcycling approach has become a hallmark of their brand, blending sustainability, creativity, and community involvement into each renovation. 🖼️🎨 What’s stopping you from creating the space of your dreams? 🏘️ #realestateinvesting #commercial #mixeduse #pnw #mcmenamins #mcmenaminskennedyschool #mcmenaminspassport #mcmenaminsedgefield #venue #adaptivereuse #development #community #communitydevelopment #realestate

Vad skapar attraktiva stadskärnor? Ny stor global studie visar följande: ”Central business districts must provide recreation, opportunities for discovery, and beautiful surroundings to continue to appeal to city dwellers. / The design of CBDs transcends aesthetics, it influences every aspect of the urban experience. Physical design improvements cannot be separated from their human impact. The analysis shows that CBDs must deliver opportunities for fun, discovery, and beauty to appeal to a broad audience of city dwellers. Downtowns that prioritize informal gathering spaces, promote walkability, and pursue activation through community amenities will create an authentic sense of place for downtown residents, employees, and local visitors.” Slutsats: In med rekreation, mötesplatser och grönska, ut med biltrafik och otrygghet. https://lnkd.in/dBuCCaAB