Developing Authentic Places:
The Hipster Effect
Max Reim – CNU 17 – Denver, CO – June 13, 2009

Selected Project
Examples
Downtown/Urban Recreation-Based Villages
Revitalizations Presidio, San Francisco, CA
Downtown Norfolk, VA The Great Park, Irvine, CA
Downtown Rockford, IL Port McNicoll, ON
Mueller, Austin, TX Les Arcs, France
Downtown Newburgh, NY Sandestin, FL
Downtown Boca, FL Snowmass, CO
Toronto Waterfront, ON
New Urbanist Communities College Towns & University
Habersham, SC Districts
East Garrison, CA FSU, Tallahassee, FL
Hammonds Ferry, SC UCONN, Storrs, CT
Ni Village, VA IUB, Bloomington, IN
Festival, AZ IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN
Prairie Crossing, IL McGill, Montreal, QC
East Beach, VA University of Chicago, Hyde
Park, IL

Los Angeles U.S.A.
70% 61,000 mi 2

Re-examining the Last 50 Years of
Development

Sense of Community
90+% 56% of U.S. market
New Residential Development in U.S.A Desire for Mixed-Use Neighbourhoods

What People Have Been
Offered

What People Want

Sense of Community
90+% 56% of U.S. market
New Residential Development in U.S.A Desire for Mixed-Use Neighborhoods

Demographic Mismatch?

Real-Time Update
The VIP’s The Simplifiers

45 Million Americans
Work at Home
(at least part-time)

Social Networking
Monthly: > 200 million 110 million
55 million visits Active Users Active Users
6 million visitors

Texting & Googling
# of Monthly
1992: 1st Text Searches:
Message sent
2006: 2.7 Billion
Today: Total Daily
2008: 31 Billion
Texts > World
Population

We are Living in Exponential Times
~ 4 exabytes (4.0x10^9) of Unique Information
will be Generated This Year
That is More than the Previous 5,000 years

How Are Companies
Responding?

Hipsters Seeking
Quality & Contextual Mixed-Use Cores

Creating
Connections

Authenticity

Activated Streets

Great Gathering Spots

Social Eateries

Regional Flavors

Events & Everyday Rituals

Social & Frivolous Fun

Active & Healthy Living

Celebrating Nature & Outdoors

Sensible Mobility

Intercultural & Intergenerational

Arts & Culture
Key ingredients of mixed use development

Entertainment & Social Nightlife

The Whole
is Greater Than the
Sum of
its Parts

A Case Study

Portland’s Pearl District

Organized Effort

Community Ownership

The Pearl By The Numbers
Population and Size
• 1,113 residents on 300 acres
In the Ranks
• Best Places to Retire, Money Magazine (2007)
• America’s Best New Developments, Sierra Club (2005)
• 10th Most Walkable Neighborhood in America, www.walkscore.com
• 60 of the World’s Great Places, Project for Public Spaces
Residential Real Estate
• 2008 Median Home Price: $529,950 (91% higher than metro Portland)

Social Gathering Residential Education
The Integrated
Mixed-Use
Ecosystem
Commercial
Creative Offices
Civic, Arts & Culture Recreation Hotel & Hospitality

TLC TM
Targeted Leasing
& Casting

Repositioning & Rebranding

The LowCountry’s
Village Destination

TM
Strategy: Targeted Leasing & Casting
Activated Mixed Use Local and
Town Center Regional Retailers
TM
Local and Regional Local and Regional Restauranteurs &
Grab & Go Treats Bar/Nightlife

Ambassadors & Establishments

People Concepts
Targeted Leasing & Casting
(TLCTM)
Financial
Experience Capacity

Progress Report

Public Spaces...Now

Community Drivers & Animation
• Cinco de Mayo
• Pickup soccer
• Weekly Farmer’s
market
• Yoga at the River
Retreat
• 3 on 3 basketball
• "Yappy" Hour
• Charter School Twilight
Run & Oyster Roast
• Walking & Running
Club

Charter School Twilight Run & Oyster Roast
Expanded Farmer’s Market

Cinco de Mayo

Opening in Summer 2009 --- Great 3rd Places!
• Bistro by the top restaurant group in Beaufort
• Indoor/outdoor fitness concept by top training company in
Beaufort
• "M" home design and gift shop
• English/American Pub
• Smoke Shack
• Pet daycare, grooming and retail shop by Beauforts #1 Pet
Shop operator
• Wine bar and experience
• Italian Trattoria

Developing Authentic Places:
The Hipster Effect
Max Reim – CNU 17 – Denver, CO – June 13, 2009