Rebuilding Better Cities, One Block at a Time
Better Block: Using Design to Activate Spaces and Bring People Together.
I have always loved urban development and historic redevelopment projects. I think it combines my love for cities, design, community, and people all in one. This is the essence of placemaking and crafting a better narrative. And it is the beginnings of good storytelling.
As a fully-devoted apprentice of Jesus Christ, a major part of living out my faith involves caring for my local city and community — seeking her prosperity and health in any way I can. Loving God and others includes finding an active role to play in developing my city’s story, listening to her needs, and exploring the best ways to build, rebuild, and redeem.
It is certainly inspiring to see how cities reimagine their place by redesigning the spaces they already have. However, when the residents themselves take the initiative to act on this imagination, it is empowering to the rest of us. Jason Roberts is the perfect example of a local citizen who went from ideator to practitioner in service of his own hometown community of Oak Cliff, a community of South Dallas, Texas. I read about Jason’s vision and story in “Good Grit” Magazine’s June issue.
He started with a vision to bring back the historic Dallas street car by simply launching a well-designed website to share the vision. This quickly turned into a $23 million-dollar grant to see this vision become a reality. This would lead to the redevelopment of a Texas theater, an art district, city blocks, and eventually “Better Block” — The Better Block Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that educates, equips, and empowers communities and their leaders to reshape and reactivate built environments to promote the growth of healthy and vibrant neighborhoods.
From Better Block’s website:
For one weekend, they took over their block. They painted bike lanes, coordinated pop-up food markets and retailers, and created a beer garden. They called their experiment the Better Block, and through it, the community brainstormed together, learned together, and ultimately shared in the beautiful and vibrant spaces they helped create together.
The drive to make places better was placed in the hands of neighbors, and they ran with it. Over the years, Better Blocks have been implemented from Portland to Detroit and Melbourne to Tahran.
Roberts clearly had a drive to improve his neighborhood and was willing to take risks and act on his dreams. What a beautiful thing to see and be part of when “the drive to make places better” is “placed in the hands of neighbors” and they run with it. The joy. The belonging. The sense of community. The pride of neighborhood. The power of such unity and purposeful design. Of breathing new life back into a neighborhood that has experienced blight and struggle and even abandon and restore hope, life, and a thriving community.
In my own community of Cherokee County, Georgia, this “better block” passion can be seen in many of our cities: from Woodstock’s growing art and downtown district with Reformation Brewery and the new downtown playground to Canton’s downtown historic district and the newly restored Mill on Etowah — a mixed-used project with retail, restaurants, outdoor venues, live music, brewery, coworking, and more — to downtown Ball Ground’s growth with new food, beverage, and music activities. All over America, city leaders, ecosystem builders, entrepreneurs, and residents alike are capturing a fresh passion for rebuilding their cities and building better blocks. And they are rediscovering the beauty of walkable cities, outdoor gatherings, and better neighborhoods.
Jason and a few friends cared so much about their neighborhood and community that they were willing to take the initiative, act, and risk breaking local laws to build better blocks in their city. We don’t always have to do the one big thing, expect our leaders or neighbors to act first, and we can’t wait for perfect. We need to simply act on our dreams and be willing to take risks for the good of our neighbors and the rebuilding of our community. It is worth it because they are worth it.
And, like Jason says, it all starts with the little things. One block at a time.
“The places we love have a hundred little things. A little cafe, little flower shop, bike lanes, public benches, lighting, kiosks, etc. As a community we can build a hundred little things a lot faster than we can do these giant things.”
— Jason Roberts, Founding Director of Better Block.
What little things can we do in our cities? How can we start? What can I do in my town? What can you do in your neighborhood? For your neighbors? To help build community. To build a better block. Find out. Walk your city. Talk to your leaders. Listen to your small business owners. Serve your neighbors. Pray for ideas and the faith to act.
