Placemaking for Communities: Creating something from nothing

Place Making
Waiting For The Big Bang
John Hiltz, P.E
President
Jim Houk, ASLA, AICP
Vice President / Managing Director Ohio
Bill Costick
Director of Community Relations
OHM 34000 Plymouth Road Livonia, Michigan 48150 T 734.522.6711 F 734.522.6427 www.ohm-advisors.com

Place Making – Something From Nothing OHM www.ohm-advisors.com
Why Placemaking
• Sustainability of cities for social, economic, and
ecological reasons
• Quality of Experience
• Is it the place or the experience

Placemaking – Is it a new idea?
• Placemaking is not a new idea
• Originated in the 1960s, when visionaries like Jane Jacobs
and William “Holly” Whyte offered groundbreaking ideas
about designing cities that catered to people, not just to
cars and shopping centers.
• Focused on the importance of lively neighborhoods and
inviting public spaces.
• “Eyes on the street.”

Planning for public spaces
Lifting the role of stakeholders in design to help serve the needs of the users they represent people are the
ultimate judge of whether places function and sustain.
Places

What Is Place?
Can you create SOMETHING from
NOTHING?

Knowing Place
Source: freeismylife.com

Is It Architecture?
Source: OHM

Is It Water?
Source: OHM

Or A Plaza?
Source: OHM

Or An Event?
Source: experiencecolumbus.com

Is It History?
Source: toptenz.net

Or Can It Be New?
Source: thewashingtonnote.com

Or Is It Rural?
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eridony/6801468340/

Is It Natural?
Source: OHM

Or A Trendy New Shopping Experience?
Source: OHM

Or Simply A Place to Relax or Interact?
Source: dispatch.com

Is It Pedestrian Focused?

Or Auto Focused?
Source: blog.travelwisconsin.com

Is It Imaginary?
Source:fundisneyworld.com

A Place That Brings Back Childhood Memories?
Source: OHM

Is It Imported?
Source:ohiofestivals.net

Or Real?
Source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/64429486@N00/4096469709/

Reason 1: Promote healthy lifestyles

• 40% – 60% of Obesity is
caused by a lack of
walkability in communities
• More than 1/3 of 35.7
percent of adults in the
U.S. are obese (CDC)
• Estimated 42 percent of
the population will be
obese by 2030
Reason 1: Promote healthy lifestyles

Reason 2: Changing Market Demands
Economics of changing markets
• The U.S. Population will increase by 50% between
the years 2000 and 2050
• Over 110,000 current housing units will need to be
replaced
• The market is being dominated by the two largest
generations in American History

Who Are We Attracting?

The Baby Boomer Market? 1946-1964
• About 2.5% live downtown
• More - 4% - would like to live downtown
• About 15% overall would like to live in
the City
• Diverse group
• Want “Safe Urbanism”
• Entertainment, retail , medical services
nearby
• LOHAS – Lifestyles of Health and
Sustainability

Generation X In The Market 1965-1980
• Diverse, like Boomers:
• About 21% want to live in a City
• 5.8% want to live downtown, but only 4.4%
do…

Gen Y 1981-1999
• What do they want? They’ll text you…
• Most digitally connected generation
• Ethnically diverse – 47% non-white
• Greater preference for in-town areas and
• inner suburbs
• Value places with diversity, walkability,
proximity to jobs and to FUN
• Want “walkable” places, town centers, mixed
use “Central place” to gather with friends
• Choose where they want to live first

Where They Want To Live By Generation?

Reason 3: Household Structure Is Changing

• 39% of households own at least one dog
Reason 3: Household Structure Is Changing

Many reasons to think differently…
Are we meeting the needs of our today’s and tomorrow’s
generations?

Changing Paradigm?
Jobs Place

• Social Offerings
• Aesthetics
• Friendliness/Openess = =
Community
Attachment
Spending

Survey Says…?
We have not planned to meet
the needs of tomorrow
Social and demographic trends
demand quality of place
Business/Economic
Development demands quality
of place

Survey Says…?

Qualities of a successful public space
• Primary ingredients
• Easily accessible by various routes and
modes of transportation
• The space must be active, and include
activities for a variety of user groups
• The space must have a good image, and be
comfortable and attractive
• The space promotes social interactions

Qualities of a successful public space
Place Diagram: Obtained from PPS

Access & Linkages

Comfort & Image

Uses & Activities

Sociability

Principles for Placemaking
1. The Community Is The Expert
2. Create a Place, Not a Design
3. Look for Partners
4. They Always Say “It Can’t Be Done”
5. You Can See A Lot Just By Observing
6. Develop a Vision
7. Triangulate (Place, Program, Goods and Services)
8. Start with the Petunias: Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper
9. Money Is Not the Issue
10. You Are Never Finished

“It can’t be done”
“…the possible benefits of
required seat belts would
not justify the costs to the
manufacturers and the
public.”
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1970

Visioning
Methodology
The OHM proprietary process revolves around developing a vision
includes five fundamental phases:
1. Preparation
2. Understanding the Context
3. Conducting the Vision
4. Illustrating the Vision
5. Finalizing the Vision and Setting Up Implementation (including project,
program and policy recommendations)

Visioning
Key Components for Your Vision
• Incorporate Your Community’s Beliefs
• The believes are a statement of values
• The values most be translated to clear vision and set of goals
• The vision and goals must be supported by actionable expected
outcomes
• Outcomes must be precise and include bold and practical ideas

Visioning
Can you afford a vision?
Can you afford not have a vision?
Your vision economic value?

Creekside
From Vision To Reality

62
Creekside

64
Creekside

Hilliard
Rebuilding A Core

Hilliard
rebuilding a core
Hilliard
Rebuilding A Core

Ph I – $914,704
Ph II A - $1,234,193
Ph II B - $1,847,760
Total $3,996,657
$2,996,658 – Local Funds
$999,999 – OPWC Funding
Westland
Creating and Building the Vision

Westland
Creating and Building the Vision

Auburn Hills
Expanding & Strengthening Place

Auburn Hills
Expanding & Strengthening Place
Oakland Community College
Oakland University
Cooley Law School

Takeaways

1. Think Differently
2. Start at a place of strength (what makes your place special and elevate the
brand)
3. Be who you are and be the best you can be
4. Find the hidden opportunities in your community
5. Collaborate
6. Get going
7. Can’t afford not to have a vision
8. Tell your story (communicate the essence of your place)
Takeaways

Placemaking for Communities: Creating something from nothing

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