On Placemaking

University Avenue Farmers Market

The current newsletter from People for Public Places has some interesting articles on placemaking. In their articles, they emphasize the importance of historic neighborhoods to the overall identity and livability of a place. The first states:

"Communities and regions abound with local wonders that too often are hidden away or taken for granted. While cities lavish money on big-ticket projects like sports arenas, concert halls, and shopping complexes, true gems like historic buildings, scenic landscapes or neighborhoods that actually define communities receive little investment or protection.

Instead of being prized and supported, these places are often strip-mined for a quick economic return with no regard for what happens to the environment or community as a whole. Citizens who oppose misguided development, such as strip malls ripping up historic neighborhoods or beloved countrysides, are criticized as anti-growth. But what these groups are really trying to do is protect the value of their region’s unique and irreplaceable resources, which sets these areas apart as places where people love to live. In truth, citizens protecting their community are pursuing their own economic development strategy—one that is far more likely to make a city or town competitive in the New Economy of the 21st Century.

These community efforts are central to the vision of Placemaking, and make up an important part of Project for Public Spaces’ work around the world."

If you would like to read more click here for the article above and here for a second article about thriving communities in tough economic times.