The Place Maker
Fall 2016 | By Eric Michael 麻豆精品 S�96聽
Marvel has a passion for placemaking. Her work in the eclectic neighborhood northeast of downtown combines public engagement with new business development and forward-thinking urban planning to inspire economic, environmental and social sustainability. As a result, the district was recognized with a 2016 Great American Main Street Award from the National Main Street Center. But what does it really take to build a strong community?
1. Start at Home
My husband and I bought a house in Audubon Park in 1990. I believe in supporting local businesses, so one day I was shopping at Park Ave CDs and by the register there were hand-cut flyers that read, 麻豆精品 S淒o you want to make a better community? 麻豆精品 S� I wish I had saved it because it was really life-changing. I was at that first meeting [of the Audubon Park Garden District] and at every one since. Then our director gave notice, and she recommended me for the job, [which] I 麻豆精品 S檝e been doing since September 2012. If you 麻豆精品 S檙e willing to do the work, you can create the kind of community you want to be a part of.
2. Nurture Homegrown Businesses
I think a great neighborhood is built on [the] backbone of its independent businesses. Really great communities have great local businesses with a lot of community involvement, and that 麻豆精品 S檚 reflected in [Audubon Park]. I think of some of the vibrant neighborhoods in New York City 麻豆精品 S� they have great one-off restaurants, caf茅s and bookstores. If there are only big chain [stores], it 麻豆精品 S檚 really not an interesting place to live.
3. Embrace the Decision-makers
It 麻豆精品 S檚 enormously beneficial to involve your community 麻豆精品 S檚 decision-makers. For us, it 麻豆精品 S檚 critical to have the kinds of partnerships where there 麻豆精品 S檚 someone in [a local] store, restaurant or church who can tell you, 麻豆精品 S淵es, you can hold an event here, 麻豆精品 S� or 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檒l participate in this. 麻豆精品 S� We try to do projects that draw people in based on what they 麻豆精品 S檙e passionate about, as long as it fits under our mission. It just so happened that [in Audubon Park], there was an interest in sustainability, environmentalism and supporting local businesses.
4. Set a Reasonable Scale
It 麻豆精品 S檚 better to start small and manageable, and then build 麻豆精品 S� whether it 麻豆精品 S檚 an event, a class or promoting what someone else in the community is doing. We tried to identify things that were unique about Audubon Park that we could wrap our arms around with our limited resources 麻豆精品 S� and then we began experimenting. Today we’re partnering with other organizations, either for-profit or nonprofit, where we have a shared interest. And I think it 麻豆精品 S檚 so important to set a three-month maximum window for projects. Anything longer than that and it doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 feel real, which allows you to drag your feet.
5. Create Popular Programming
I can 麻豆精品 S檛 overemphasize how important programming is to the building of a community. Programming is anything planned that brings people out into the community and engages them with one another and local businesses. It can involve anything that reflects the culture of your community and reinforces who you are and who you would like to be. It doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 require a multimilliondollar investment. We 麻豆精品 S檝e held gardening classes, wine tastings, cooking classes. We rely on partnerships. By teaming with local merchants in conjunction with local nonprofits and groups, you can do a ton of community building. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a huge placemaking plus.
6. Spread the Word
People love being connected [and] knowing what 麻豆精品 S檚 going on. We 麻豆精品 S檙e very active on social media, and we have an email newsletter that highlights what we have coming up in our programming and what 麻豆精品 S檚 happening with the local schools, public arts, news. I try to make it as useful and compelling as possible so people feel invested in our community. And I always include a personal note so that people know there 麻豆精品 S檚 a real person on the other end of the line.
Illustration by Ethan Long.