How to build a What is a
BETTER
BLOCK
BETTER BLOCK?
MARKET
Better Block is a temporary intervention that adds life to a blighted commercial area. The project began with activists and Realtors® that wanted to create the top amenity home and commercial buyers are wanting, walkability. The project has been used in over 100 communities to create walkable destinations and stronger housing option
PUBLIC SPACE
POP-UP SHOPS
PROG RAM MING
ART
How is a
BETTER BLOCK started? “Many cities end up putting off things because they want to understand everything. They don’t understand that innovating is about starting. Taking care of a city is a process that you start, and then give the population space to respond.” JAIME LE R NE R
Meet with the community to identify a block in need. Don’t worry about getting everyone on board, work with the property owners that are interested. Have a community walk of the area and document the existing condition and dream about what could be. Watch one of the many Better Block videos at www.betterblock.org
WWW.BETTERBLOCK.ORG
MEETING WITH CITIZENS
COMPLETE
STREET
OVE R 1 00 B E T TE R B LO CKS I N 4 CO U N T RI E S . . .
COORDINATE WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS
These events are great for elected officials to take part in because we have action in a short period with many photo ops! Use the special event permit process to approach city staff and get them out in the field with you to see the location.
STRIVE TO MAKE IT PERMANENT
BETTER
Work with property owners to make changes to facades, keep the pop up shops with short term leases and document the project well to justify changes to infrastructure, such as the street. W W W.B E T TE R B LO CK .O RG
BLOCK
M ON TH
st
st
MO NT H
Getting Started
Getting out of the townhall and onto the street:
Identify a block!
Gather the community! STREET
how was this area once alive?
Wide streets provide a great opportunity for incorporating people and bikes.
BUILDINGS
Best are small and built to the sidewalk with no spaces in-between. Think main street or a former streetcar stop.
nd
DOES THE BLOCK FEEL SAFE?
Go directly to the block that you wish to revitalize. Invite the community, carry a bullhorn, walk through spaces.
what is missing in this area?
STRUCTURES
Highways, overpasses and large swaths of vacant land can make it tough to activate.
After walking the block, meet at a site in close proximity to whiteboard ideas on what’s missing. This is a chance to give people “permission to pretend”. This will open up the floodgates to possibilities beyond the status quo. Ask questions.
MONTH Better Block Recipe
Coordinate the ingredients! The community, its resources, and skillsets are what make-up the ingredients that go into building a Better Block. Identifying those resources and putting them to work is where the real energy behind a project begins. Innovation comes from marrying two different ideas/concepts together and “removing a zero” from your budget while maintaining a short deadline. Analysis paralysis and overthinking will occur if timelines and budgets are too large. Getting started is the key.
Find your local...
landscape architect
BLOCK
MOTIVATED COMMUNITY
WILLING PROPERTY OWNERS
The closer the block is to the neighborhood, the more opportunity for community ownership.
Area residents interested and excited about change? Are they willing to co-organize and be partners in the areas revitalization?
Don’t worry about getting them all, they will come around, focus on a few that want to partner.
rd
MONTH
BARBER SHOPS
designer
4
Make a "needs list" for materials and resources and distribute to community
and giving them a block boundary to develop ideas and champion change creates a simple, understandable framework for people to begin working together. The short timeline lowers the risk of “I don’t have enough time” concerns that occur with large capital projects. Ownership now becomes shared by a community and the barn-building necessary to re-stitch a community together can begin.
MONT H
Create a "street team" to devise a plan by walking, biking or riding transit through project area.
rd
Right sizing the street with bicycle & pedestrian amenities
Complete Street
5
Hold a block party cleaning event
COFFEE SHOPS
CRAFT STORES
FABRIC STORES
FRUIT STANDS
GIFT STORES
ICE CREAM STORES
MUSIC STORES
BOOK STORES
FLOWERSHOP
NEWS STANDS
Clean it Activate it Sustain it
MONTH
Measuring the impact of the project will lead to a long term change
Metrics
parkletts
plazas
cafes
Traffic Noise
STREET TREES
RESTAURANTS
VINTAGE SHOPS
65db
New Zoning/Ordinances
25mph
cycle tracks Bike lanes
PUBS
6
Get potential pop-up shops into vacant spaces to chart temporary improvements and enhance safety.
BIKE SHOPS
CLOTHING STORES
PET STORES
8
“Blackmail” yourself with social media to advertise the great things you and your group are going to do.
Survey of Participants
OUTDOOR SHOPS
3
Get a block party permit, insurance and talk to city hall
web developer
Here is a checklist:
set a date at this meeting and launch the project on social media. This will “blackmail” your team into getting started and assure that you will not delay.
2
Create a concept plan for the area using temporary materials and pop-up methods
7
Don’t forget to...
Pop-Up Shops BAKERIES
plumber
If Naysayers begin taking over the process, invite them to build their dream in this space as well. Give them ownership in the block and a chance to test their ideas as well.
rd
Activate vacant spaces w/ local merchants
ART STORES
electrician
Aligning your trades together...
BETTER
NEIGHBORHOOD PROXIMITY
1
Align the skills of the community with needs for revitalization
crosswalks
awnings
Traffic Speeds
bike parking benches
Retail Sales Commercial Leases
Street Changes