Below is an excerpt from the new book Economics of Place: The Art of Building Great Communities:
Why Placemaking?
Placemaking, at its core, is a response. It
follows in the long tradition of humanist reactions to
systems that come to rely too much on dogma and
tradition that runs afoul of everyday life. Federal policy
that favors similarity in housing styles, cumbersome
city codes that sap entrepreneurial spirit, and a lack
of effective civic engagement around decision-making
all lead to citizen dissatisfaction. Throw in overbearing
planning and zoning laws that often outlaw the types of
places that people covet, and you have a pretty potent
recipe for backlash.
Placemaking, in a nut shell, is about positioning
the human experience in everyday life above all else.
People are social creatures. At our best, we like
to feel part of a larger plan for our families and our
communities. Greeting people on a walkable street or
chatting with old friends while enjoying a public space
are important components of city life. So are groups of
entrepreneurs exchanging ideas at a local coffee shop or
a public art show that dots the neighborhood landscape
on weekends in the summer. All these events contribute
to the vibrancy of the human experience and have
positive impacts on culture, health, and the economy.
To read more, go here.