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Placemaking

Working with partners in both the public and private realms, the Downtown BID is  focused on creating a remarkable urban experience in Downtown DC through exceptional placemaking. This entails refocusing attention on the quality of public spaces. Or as internationally known placemaking expert Fred Kent, president of Project for Public Spaces, puts it, placemaking “is not just the act of building or fixing up a space but a whole process that fosters the creation of vital public destinations: the kind of places where people feel a strong stake in their communities and a commitment to making things better.”

“Put simply,” he said, “placemaking capitalizes on a local community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, ultimately creating good public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and well being.”

Downtown SAMs (the BID's safety, hospitality and maintenance employees) play a vital role in ensuring that visitors to the area encounter a “clean, safe and friendly”  environment as they travel through Downtown. Other experience providers and influencers are better positioned to deliver the kind of activities that encourage people to explore, create and share revitalizing and inspiring moments. But, the BID can set the stage for these partners and stakeholders to invest in staging public areas (with more outdoor cafes, vending, events, etc.) where people want to stop and engage each other and enjoy their surroundings. Over the last 12 years, the BID has promoted placemaking by upgrading streetscapes, introducing wayfinding signs and initiating a variety of joint demonstration projects with the city and nongovernmental organizations. Moving the needle from clean, safe and friendly to vibrant, inviting and smart requires continued cooperation and collaboration -- hallmarks of the Downtown BID's programs and services.

The goals of the BID's placemaking effort are to: 1) invest in and maintain attractive and high quality physical elements; 2) establish a significant number and variety of active and enjoyable “places” that are people magnets; and 3) encourage a feeling of livability, comparable to that in other great global cities (which arises from a combination of good design, appropriate scale, mix of uses, pedestrian oriented, accessible, well maintained and actively managed.) 

Placemaking Workshop

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In 2008, as part of this effort, the Downtown BID invited internationally known placemarking expert Fred Kent, president of Project for Public Spaces, to facilitate a day-long workshop.

The placemaking workshop was the first step in developing a common framework and shared language about designing and managing public spaces. Participants were introduced to a range of topics where placemaking could be applied and got hands-on experience in assessing conditions in Downtown.

Below are some of the materials used in this workshop.

Taking It to the Next Level:
Downtown DC’s Physical Environment and Public Spaces
The Need for a Renewed Partnership
[pdf - 1.5 MB]

Presented by
Richard H. Bradley
Executive Director
Downtown DC BID

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Streets As Places
[pdf - 7.8 MG]

Presented by
Fred and Ethan Kent
Project for Public Spaces
 

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What Makes a Great Place
[pdf - 1 MG]

Presented by
Ethan Kent
Project for Public Spaces

 
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Downtown BID Placemaking Exercise
[pdf - 608 KB]

Presented by
Project for Public Spaces Staff