What In The World Is A Place Strategy?
Place Strategy is transformative.
Place Strategy is certainly a big term to grasp. But the reason is quite simple. Places are incredibly complex. Places represent vast networks of individuals, organizations, and cultures, and they are influenced by prevailing market conditions and systems of regulation. Therefore, each place-based issue and challenge cannot possibly function in isolation. They are either impacted by or impact other aspects of place.
By definition, there are probably a hundred different things that could be considered a place strategy – an economic development strategic plan, a downtown master plan, a neighborhood revitalization plan, a placemaking activation plan, an arts and culture plan, a corridor plan, etc. Ultimately, all of these plans give a community a roadmap to transform, and, hopefully, better a place with the support and contribution of those that call the place theirs.
Every city, town, district, or neighborhood is different and embracing these qualities and assets is the first step to designing an effective place strategy. I’ve traveled to and worked in hundreds of places over the last 8-9 years and I can still recount a unique memory from each place. From pineapple farm visits in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, as part of a site visit to develop regional tourism plans for Foundation for Puerto Rico, to stunning beaches along the Atlantic coastline in Cape Cod that support the nascent blue economy in Town of Orleans, and even the authentic Vietnamese cuisine on Bolsa Avenue to celebrate the launch of a blueprint for Little Saigon the economic spine of Westminster, California. Each place teems with its own sets of opportunities. It’s only when you’ve immersed yourself in the community, built relationships, exchanged information and knowledge, and explored each space that you can begin to carve out a plan to enhance what’s working and fix what’s not.
We’re all heading toward the same destination.
Whether working with an agricultural community in a rural region or developing an activation plan for a network of open spaces around a transit hub in a major metropolitan city, the goal of the research and planning process is almost always to create welcoming places and resilient communities where diverse people can come together to build economic wealth and social capital for years to come.
Don’t believe me? Take a look at any downtown master plan, neighborhood plan, or economic development strategy, and look at the vision statement or goals.
“We envision Downtown Cleveland as the vibrant, welcoming city center that weaves districts… attracts modern economic activity, and provides a world-class experience for people of all backgrounds”“Creating opportunities to build thriving communities in southern Oklahoma” “The region seeks to be economically competitive by nourishing on a regional scale the business-friendly element of good public schools, innovative research universities, vibrant and walkable communities, affordable housing, high-quality transportation, and wise land use.”“Facilitate a thriving and inclusive community for New Yorkers”The differences boil down to two things: Process & Research, and the tools, levers, and policies being recommended to drive transformation and systemic change. While a placemaking activation plan might employ more tactical tools like events and street furniture and design, a development master plan may be more focused on capital infrastructure improvements and property development, and an economic development plan on citywide policy and programs.
The journey & process design is everything.
Here at Think Place Agency, our strategies are rooted in embracing the knowledge and power of communities – regardless of the topic of focus (public space, economic development, land use & zoning). Our process carefully builds in time and resources to enable exchange of information and embedding knowledge and tools within communities so that work can continue without us.
Forget doing research for the sake of doing research. Forget planning for the sake of planning. We want to design the process and strategy that helps move the needle for your community and provide the right information you need to advocate for more resources, funding, and support from partners. Click here to find out more about our approach.
If we’re being honest, our goal as place strategists is not to deliver a strategy that is designed in isolation or in opposition of local people, or that sits on a shelf. We want the community to celebrate the strategy and to use it to transform their neighborhood and their lives.
