This report measures and catalogs the successes of the Main Street Approach™ in communities throughout Michigan. The Main Street Approach™ is an economic development strategy that focuses on historic preservation and building upon a community’s authentic sense of place.
The projects are funded half by crowdfunding from local residents and half by a match from the state of up to $50,000. Eligible projects include anything that focuses on the activation of public spaces and community places, and prior projects have included painting murals, rehabbing vacant spaces, and park improvements. Similar programs also exist in Indiana and Massachusetts.
Complete streets are built with all possible users in mind, including cars, bikes, pedestrians, and transit. Complete streets help to improve a community’s authentic sense of place by ensuring that all users will feel safe and comfortable.
Placemaking is increasingly being seen as an economic development tool as well as a community development tool. The Michigan Municipal League identified the various economic impacts of placemaking in a recent report:
Walkable spaces are crucial for creating an authentic sense of place. A complete streets policy can help communities design neighborhoods and downtowns that are safe and appealing for pedestrians.
Placemaking – creating interesting places where people want to spend time – is a proven economic development strategy, but is often an amorphous concept. The four types of placemaking outlined below all focus on creating an authentic sense of place, but differ in how they achieve those results. Knowing the different types of placemaking strategies will allow local leaders to choose the correct method for their communities.
The complete streets strategy makes sure the system works for everyone, from pedestrians and bikers to motorists and transit riders. The result is a safer, friendlier environment that creates a better community.
These projects are a form of grassroots, bottom-up planning. These small projects can have a big impact, filling a void as resources for traditional, top-down planning dwindle. According to the Project for Public Spaces, LQC placemaking has many benefits including: