What makes a downtown appealing for residents and visitors alike? It is often a combination of factors, including great streetscapes, restored historic buildings, walkability, and a vibrant mix of stores. But first and foremost, it is a community that has a sense of who they are and what they want to be. Defining the key attributes that create a sense of place is a critical but often forgotten first step in a community redevelopment process. As suburbanites commit themselves to reinvigorating their downtowns, we offer these inspirational examples of community done right.
Towns, sometimes miles apart, adopt starkly different strategies
The suburbs aren’t dying yet.
A Denver suburb sees a once-vacant mall transformed into a vibrant and walkable downtown.
Retrofit Council meets in Miami & Detroit
Building booms, yet strip malls remain
Companies, employees, and residents are looking for walkable suburbs.
Can this surplus land be repurposed to give our suburbs a stronger sense of place and contributes non-sprawling infill development, better-ordered public green space, and ecological services?
“We’ve had suburban sprawl for so long that people are looking for a small-town atmosphere”
The Village Grande at Millers Run, a 10-year-old adult neighborhood, has chosen to reset and change what grows on its landscape.
BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION
Follow @betterburb