Streetscape is Dead!

Well, I should more accurately say for those that really need catalyst projects to turn their places around..."Streetscape is Dead". It is no longer affordable in the extravagant ways it has been applied in the last two decades.

What’s changed? ...mainly the cost. When it was relatively "cheap" compared to other general infrastructure it was easier to find the funds. And in that context, as long as it looked "pretty"...well, hey it must be doing some good!

Streetscape was seen as a quick fix with good political returns. The actual benefits were hard to quantify and that didn't matter too much because there was a broad belief by all stakeholders that through some sort of osmosis effect the triple bottom line was strengthened.

Yes, the good old days. If only we really enjoyed the naive simplicity at the time!

Today, there is less money for such untested public indulgences. At the local level the decades of under investment in general infrastructure is now looming as a crisis as much as the quickly escalating issues of climate change and energy scarcity.

Yet, in every crisis there is opportunity. The opportunity for sustainable revitalisation of Town Centres and rural communities now lies in new technology i.e. the internet and the emerging experience economy…where authentic places and experiences are in demand.

The economic justification has always been about jobs but it will be the smarter jobs and place jobs that will provide the long term vitality struggling Town Centres and rural communities are looking for.

It is a brand new world for those that seek to facilitate change through public infrastructure. There needs to be smart strategies that are based on community visions and cost effectively executed to deliver catalyst outcomes quickly...

...and that is what "Place-based Enterprise" offers. Not necessarily a new direction, but certainly a smarter one for times where the changes are rapidly increasing and funding is becoming much more accountable to meaningful outcomes rather than self indulgent artistic adventures and economically disconnected placemaking.

What is "Place-based Enterprise"?

Place-based enterprise builds stronger and more vibrant communities by promoting business that is intrinsic to what is local. The unique history, environment, culture and economy of a particular place provide the catalyst for place-based enterprise initiatives. It is sometimes referred to as experiential enterprise, environmental enterprise, community-based enterprise or enterprise for sustainability.

Free White Paper

For an outline of the thinking behind Place-based enterprise download your FREE White Paper at Vital Places.

Streetscape is Dead...Long live Place-based Enterprise!