SWA’s Post

Attention Downtown Ypsilanti Stakeholders! 12 Steps to Revitalization Step 1: Admit the Problem Acknowledge that the current state of downtown is not meeting the community’s needs. Recognize the visible neglect, loss of pride, or lack of engagement, and accept that change is necessary. Step 2: Believe in the Possibility of Change Accept that revitalization is possible through intentional effort and community involvement. Believe that a committed, unified approach can bring meaningful transformation. Step 3: Commit to Community Pride Decide to dedicate ourselves and our resources to revitalization, fostering civic pride in every action. Recognize that pride in our community is the foundation of change. Step 4: Take a Civic Inventory Assess our downtown’s strengths, weaknesses, assets, and unique character. Identify areas needing improvement and acknowledge resources and values that make our community special. Step 5: Accept Responsibility Understand that revitalization is our collective responsibility. Resist blaming external factors, and instead embrace local accountability and ownership of downtown’s future. Step 6: Identify Core Values Define what makes our community unique, and commit to enhancing those qualities. From history to culture, these values will shape our revitalization efforts and preserve our identity. Step 7: Empower Local Leaders Encourage and support leaders who are passionate about downtown revitalization. Empower business owners, residents, and officials to be champions of community change. Step 8: Foster Resident Engagement Involve residents in the process, ensuring they have a voice in shaping the downtown experience. Host discussions, volunteer days, and events that bring people together. Step 9: Beautify Public Spaces Prioritize the cleanup and beautification of downtown. From sidewalks to signage, invest in small but impactful improvements that restore pride and appeal in public areas. Step 10: Support Local Businesses Strengthen the economic core of downtown by supporting local businesses. Promote and invest in shops, restaurants, and services that contribute to a thriving local economy. Step 11: Celebrate Every Milestone Acknowledge and celebrate small victories to maintain momentum. Publicly recognize progress to reinforce positivity and inspire continued community support. Step 12: Sustain and Grow Efforts Commit to continuous improvement, adapting strategies as needed. Encourage future generations to sustain revitalization efforts, ensuring that community pride remains a lasting legacy

Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership recently announced their plans to revitalize downtown Pittsburgh with the goal of increasing retail occupancy by 10% in the next decade and to double the number of people living downtown. 🏢 Here is how they are planning to do it 👇 ▪️ Advance construction of four pedestrian-friendly streetscape and park improvement projects ▪️ Install 10 major public art pieces ▪️ Expand landscaping to reduce blight ▪️ Host four large festivals a year like Picklesburgh and 300 smaller events featuring local artists, musicians and entertainers ▪️ Proactively approaching businesses who leases expire soon to encourage them to stay downtown ▪️ Collaborating with organizations, developers and government partners to convert unused office space into housing. ▪️ Point Park also has a vision of expanding student housing, turning the Boulevard of the Allies into a more pedestrian-friendly retail corridor and getting more connected to the cultural district https://lnkd.in/dHjDAH4x

I've been thinking about how placemaking builds stronger communities. Imagine a park that's not just a place to throw a frisbee, or play fetch with your dog but a hub for neighbours to connect, share meals and collaborate on projects that make the community grow closer. That's the magic of placemaking! This actually happened when a local park went from desolate to delightful. A group of residents started meeting for weekly potlucks, and the energy was contagious! Slowly, through word of mouth, the gathering increased from a mere ten people to hundreds of people getting together every weekend. This simple act of coming together sparked a conversation with the city about revitalizing the space. Now, they're planning a community garden and a recreation area - all designed with input from the people who use it most! Here's the thing: When we design with community in mind, we're not just building structures, we're building trust. Trust between residents and local government, and trust between neighbours themselves. This sense of connection is vital for strong, healthy communities, and it all starts with creating spaces that spark interaction and collaboration. So, what are your thoughts on placemaking? Have you seen any inspiring examples in your own communities? Let me know in the comments! Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/geDJWNH4 #Architecture #HappyCities #Community #Placemaking #UrbanDesign #SocialImpact #DesignThinking

Revitalizing Centers ++ [great parks and great squares] By revitalizing centers through placemaking communities can create dynamic environments that people love to visit and spend time in. These efforts not only enhance the social fabric of the community but also generate economic development, making the area a thriving destination for residents and visitors alike. Ultimately, the incorporation of pedestrian promenades, squares, and plazas can transform the way people experience their community, fostering connections and creating lasting memories. -- Integrate squares and plazas into the urban fabric as focal points for community gatherings, events, and markets. These open spaces can serve as venues for festivals, performances, and social activities, fostering a sense of community and belonging. -- Identify key areas within the community that have the potential to become lively centers. This could include historic districts, commercial corridors, or underused public spaces. -- Incorporate features such as wide sidewalks, seating areas, landscaping, and public art to enhance the pedestrian experience and encourage people to linger.

The highly anticipated Medley project—a vibrant $1B town center development—is set to break ground next month! With over $500 million in financing now secured, Medley will bring new life to Johns Creek with shops, restaurants, offices, homes, green spaces, and entertainment venues. A transformative addition to the city, Medley is designed to be a walkable community hub. Read more with Urbanize Atlanta. https://hubs.ly/Q02Zbd340 #mixeduse #placemaking #entertainment

Creating an inclusive building community is more important than ever, but it can be tough. Office buildings are a microcosm of our broader society, and so a diverse mix of tactics are necessary to engage a diverse mix of tenants. We share a few ideas about building an inclusive community in TTG's latest blog post.

Downtown Coldwater is taking big steps to revitalize its historic downtown and create a place for families and residents of all ages. The Downtown Coldwater Main Street program is working to support a dynamic environment that consistently demonstrates collective energy and synergy. They strive to foster entrepreneurial investment and growth and encourage a vibrant, multi-cultural, family-oriented downtown that is enjoyed by its community. Learn more about what the Coldwater Main Street program is doing to support their community in the 2024 edition of their Impact Report at https://lnkd.in/gZG5b-Qp. Here are a few key highlights: 💵 Downtown Coldwater Main Street saw nearly $1.5 million worth of private investment in the district between 2022-2023, totaling $2,023644 since the program's inception in 2021. 🏛 Downtown Coldwater celebrated 7 new businesses between 2022-2023, and 6 renovations to facades & building upgrades took place just in 2022-2023, bringing the grand total 11 new businesses and 10 facade & building rehabs since the program's launch. 🙋♀️ Downtown Coldwater Main Street welcomed 23,000 folks into the community for events and gatherings, bolstered by 318 volunteer hours at the value of $9,588 for the year. Their programmatic goals are to provide family-friendly experiences with a focus on arts and culture; to revitalize buildings and public spaces to enhance an authentic sense of community that is attractive to all ages; and to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports existing and new, experience-based, and multicultural businesses. Each year, Michigan Main Street supports local communities in compiling its annual Impact Report to demonstrate the power of Main Street programming. From transformations of commercial districts to community revitalizations across the state, Michigan Main Street’s dedicated economic efforts over the decades have been leading economic growth in downtowns across the state. Read the compilation of their efforts for the past 20 years in the report recently published, detailing Michigan Main Street’s economic, fiscal and community impact: https://lnkd.in/gespseip

Transform your downtown into a thriving hub with these tips. Learn how to create attractive, walkable spaces and host engaging community events. #DowntownRevitalization #EconomicGrowth https://hubs.ly/Q02MYwyf0

Merci for MerciSF.com's chat with Claude Imbault, sharing his insights on our ongoing work to transform Downtown San Francisco! Public-private collaboration has been pivotal in revitalizing the urban core through creative initiatives like the Downtown SF Partnership's Public Realm Action Plan. These efforts include activating public spaces with events like Let’s Glow SF and "Oktoberfest on Front", an expanded block party the first event happening on California's first-ever Entertainment Zone. This initiative is a key part of broader efforts to reshape downtown San Francisco into a resilient, multi-use space, fostering a community-driven approach to urban renewal. His leadership plays a critical role in aligning the city’s needs with innovative solutions for public spaces, contributing to the city’s economic recovery. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gfgdvRqD #EconomicDevelopment #EntertainmentZone #UrbanRevitalization #UrbanDesign #PublicRealm #PublicRealmActionPlan #PublicSpaces #CityPlanning #Sustainability #SanFrancisco #DowntownSanFrancisco #DowntownSF #LetsGlowSF #Oktoberfest

“Less mix” and more residential use, cities and towns are finally startibg to get it, the value and the demand is residential