Tania Jennings’ Post

It's increasingly clear that systemic constraints are going to require us to shift what good looks like and how we deliver good in our places. The traditional visions of our future cities and places has largely ignored systemic constraints (certainly in the short term). And how we operationalize a radically just future within those constraints. This collaboration between CIVIC SQUARE and Dark Matter Labs really sought to delve deep into embracing the scale of the challenge, embracing the scale of the constraints, to find a new space of justice. 3 Degree Neighbourhood: bit.ly/Neighbourhood3

a sobering and important article and this is why I am convinced we need systems transformation.

A futuristic community may soon rise near Austin

🤔 Designers, never forget this: 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛. I often hear complaints and frustrations from designers, that they don’t get the opportunity to design the meaningful work they hoped to. Blame the employer. Blame the manager. Blame the lack of an appropriate client. Lack of time. Lack of opportunity. Should that really stop you? Designers 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯. They don’t just wait to be told to design by a boss. The secret to creating amazing and meanful projects … is 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯. 𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠. Check out Civic Tech Toronto for opportunities to connect with others and use your tech skills for meaningful civic causes!

The article from Bloomberg discusses the transformation of New Rochelle, N.Y., from a declining city to one of the fastest-growing areas in New York State through sustainable, people-centered development and the implementation of the 15-minute city concept in its new zoning code. It highlights the importance of affordable housing and mixed-use, mixed-income, and intergenerational communities for the success of future cities.

A very interesting and innovative way to further the use of public space.

The Neighbourhood Public Square Co-creation Week is going to be one of the last chances this year to come and experience and get hands in our work live, and meet the incredible neighbourhood and city we at CIVIC SQUARE are very lucky to be a part of. We would love for you to join us between the 3rd - 8th September 2024. In particular the Thursday 5th and Saturday 7th are special days for those who aren’t regular or deeply embedded in this work. Let me tell you a bit about who the Thursday might be for and why you might want to come. Welcome to the Matter[s] Market Day + Report Launch it will be a beautiful mixed bag of activities, talks, screenings and more, it’ll be great to come if you want to: + Hear more about the 3 Degree Neighbourhood work and get your hands on physical copies of the research for your community, neighbourhood, practice. + Are interested in material justice, the built environment industry transitioning to more regenerative practice, and are interested or want to contribute towards the role of bio based / natural materials in that? + What to know more about the Neighbourhood Public Square demonstrator / see the site live / know more about CIVIC SQUARE. + You have been following the Material Matter[s] learning journey and want to see how it’s gone for neighbourhoods across the country, through a showcase, panels, conversations? + Want to hear about and get copies of Material Cultures latest report which looks deeply into the the possibility across the region working with natural materials for the construction and retrofit. + You need to get hands on, away from the desk, connect with big ideas / serious challenges in practice, in community, in place. + You are very literally and practically interested in how to think about the material palette of a construction project, or your working on something similar in your neighbourhood? + You have a building and you want to use natural \ bio based materials from your ecoregion and need some ideas or to go further on how to think about this? + You are thinking about how to bring Doughnut Economics off the pages and to life in retrofit, infrastructure and neighbourhood work. + You are in the construction industry and want to know more about how to think about shifting your practices to be more regenerative, radical and meeting the climate and ecological emergency. Get in touch if you feel you would like to contribute in a different way, a talk, a panel, a workshop, something else. We are always open to it. bit.ly/MaterialsMarket #MaterialsMatters #NeighbourhoodPublicSquare

Thanks Lyndhurst Foundation Inc, PlayCore, Chattanooga Design Studio, City of Chattanooga, and Eric Myers for bringing Gil Penalosa to #chattanooga on February 22. In 6 short years, Gil and his team built 200 urban parks and activated roadways, sidewalks, school yards and public areas for public uses across Bogota. His team's successes showed the world that creating great cities isn't about having plenty of resources, or waiting for some long, drawn out bureaucratic process or glacial pace decision making effort to reach a measured conclusion. Rather, creating great cities beyond what we may think possible is simply a matter of priorities. Who gets to set these priorities? It's the people who live in cities, because they are what make cities so special, resilient, and powerful. Gil's 8 80 Cities team and value proposition challenge cities to prioritize creating the good things - livability, mobility, opportunity, fun, beauty, health, and wellness. All possible, especially in cities like Chattanooga where landscapes swim in culture, ecology, adventure, art, sport, faith, and creativity (and Usher). Listen to this interview to learn more. Hope to see y'all at CIVIQ. https://lnkd.in/e4U2N49G #parks #urbanplanning #conservation World Urban Parks

Looking forward to speaking at the NLA Summit, which is exploring the future of the #CityofLondon and the #DraftCityPlan2040, launched in April 2024 and focused on three key pillars: #economic, #social, and #environmental and aims to shape the #builtenvironment sustainably, support businesses and the people working in the City. One of the key drivers for the radical transformation into a #DestinationCity has to be the use of #culture and #placemaking to tell the story’s and provide the ‘software’ stories and creative vision. It was a brave decision by the City to insist on a robust and deliverable cultural strategy as part of the planning application for new development. This is not the random use of #106 or the idealism of a #percentforarts scheme but an integrated approach sitting alongside decsions on architecture and public realm and part of the economic planning and viability of a scheme. It's a big experiment! one which places the arts at an early stage in the development process, rather than an add on or arbitrary decision, although legacy and long term viability are still areas that need work. On a personal level I feel it has vindicated an approach I started back in 2002 with the #GrosvenorWaterside development for Berkeley Group Plc, where artists and creatives were embedded in the design team from the outset. So, in my 7 minutes I will review some of the projects we have worked on thus far and share insight into the process of getting them accepted by the client, finding the right cultural partners and involving the #community and other stakeholders and finally navigating the planning process. This is an initiative which should inspire other boroughs, towns and cities to develop similar strategies. Futurecity Guildhall School of Music & Drama Gwyn Richards Chris Hayward Dominus Migration Museum

🌟 Exciting News for Chicago! 🌟 The United Center, the second busiest arena in America, hosts 3 million guests annually. It is the home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks and embarks on a transformative journey driven by "The 1901 Project." The initiative aims to develop a $7 billion mixed-use campus around the arena, with construction expected to begin as early as 2025! 🏗️✨ 🏙️ 🏙️ Why This Matters: Community Impact: The project promises vibrant green spaces, recreational areas, and pedestrian-friendly zones, enhancing the quality of life for residents. 🌳👟 Economic Boost: It was projected to generate a whopping $4.5 billion annual economic impact, creating 63,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent jobs. 💼📈 Cultural Enrichment: A new 6,000-seat music hall and improved walkability will make the West Side a cultural hotspot. 🎶🚶♂️ The 1901 Project stands as the largest private investment in the West Side, poised to revitalize the area with much-needed housing, parks, and amenities. 🏘️🏞️ Let's look forward to a brighter, greener, and more prosperous Chicago! 🌿🏙️ #Chicago #UrbanDevelopment #CommunityGrowth #EconomicImpact *Opinions are my own.