RECENT COMMENTS
Better Block Richmond will transform 25th Street for one weekend in June
More than 60 people met at the vacant triangle at 25th and Venable Streets on Wednesday evening for a walking tour and public presentation about this summer’s upcoming Richmond Better Block Project. Strolling from the former home of the bologna burger by the never-occupied rainbow building to up past the stretch of vacant storefronts across from the Ocean Grocery, the crowd was encouraged by Better Block Project’s Jason Roberts to imagine what could happen in these empty spots.
“The goal is to create that environment that people want to linger in, that feels vibrant and alive”, says Roberts. “The premise is to do something, not just make plans.”
Sponsored by Bon Secours, Bike Walk RVA, and the city of Richmond, Richmond Better Block will transform the physical and economic reality of the 1000 and 1100 blocks of 25th Street for one weekend in June. Pop-up shops, businesses, and restaurants, along with new temporary landscaping and signage, will put a new face on the street for two quick days. The idea is show the potential of the area, to flip how business owners, residents, and the community at-large see the blocks. Imagine this as be part urban planning, part street festival.
If you are interested in being a part of the process, from volunteering to hosting your own pop-up business, get in touch with Richmond Better Block. The deadline is April 16 if you are interested in running a pop-up shop.
Better Block Project started in 2010 by temporarily transforming a busted block in Dallas, and has since worked in Norfolk, St.Paul, Memphis, and Baton Rouge (among others). They work with cities, developers, and stakeholders to create quick, inexpensive, high-impact changes that improve and revitalize underused properties and highlight the potential for creating great “Complete Streets”.
Better Block Richmond
June 13th and 14th
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TEDxOU – Jason Roberts – How To Build a Better Block
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This is fantastic!
I counted 75+ at the presentation!
Totally missed this was happening. Sounds interesting. But what happens after the weekend? How does it remain sustained? And how does it deal with long-term blight like Ocean Grocery? Not trying to be skeptical. Just trying to understand how this brings about sustainable change and improvement beyond the weekend in June.
I would like to learn more about this before I say it’s great. It kind of seems like a bunch of people “taking over” that area without a lot of concern of the people who currently spend their time there. Do the current people’s interests matter at all to this group? I’m very hesitant about this initiative.
BAF, all good questions. The same ones we had last night. When you can, take a look at http://betterblock.org.
Brantley & Max (the SportsBackers/local organizers for the Church Hill Better Block) are in a better position than I to reply to you.
I certainly can’t speak for others, but for me, the takeaway last night was that this is an opportunity to experiment: embrace a wide range of ideas and go to the inth degree. Technically, everything on site is temporary with the potential to become permanent because it shows what’s possible.
Perhaps a good local corollary is the extraordinary RVA Street Art Festival, in that it successfully reimagined a space in need.
Gretta – Your concerns are built into the process, I think. A decent amount of the participants last night were from very close by, and much was made of this event acting to support the existing businesses and community of the area.
Good, thanks John!
Better Block RVA, 60 Days to Change.
http://psgrichmond.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/better-block-rva-60-days-to-change/
Virginia Currents: Richmond Prepares to Transform Neighborhood Through Better Block Placemaking Event
http://ideastations.org/radio/virginia-currents-richmond-prepares-transform-neighborhood-through-better-block