How to build a What is a

How is a

started?

Better Block is a temporary intervention that adds life to a blighted commercial area. The project began with activists and Realtors® that wanted to create the top amenity home and commercial buyers are wanting, walkability. The project has been used in over 100 communities to create walkable destinations and stronger housing option

MEETING WITH CITIZENS

Meet with the community to identify a block in need. Don’t worry about getting everyone on board, work with the property owners that are interested. Have a community walk of the area and document the existing condition and dream about what could be. Watch one of the many Better Block videos at www.betterblock.org

COORDINATE WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS

These events are great for elected officials to take part in because we have action in a short period with many photo ops! Use the special event permit process to approach city staff and get them out in the field with you to see the location.

STRIVE TO MAKE IT PERMANENT

Work with property owners to make changes to facades, keep the pop up shops with short term leases and document the project well to justify changes to infrastructure, such as the street.

“Many cities end up putting off things because they want to un-derstand everything. They don’t understand that innovating is

about starting. Taking care of a city is a process that you start, and then give the population space

to respond.”JAIME LERNER

OVER 100 BET TER BLOCKS IN 4 COUNTRIES.. .

WWW.BET TERBLOCK.ORG

BETTER BETTER

BETTER

BLOCK BLOCK?

BLOCKWWW.BETTERBLOCK.ORG

COMPLETE

PUBLICSPACE

ART

MARKET

POP-UPSHOPS

STREET

PROGRAMMING

BETTER BLOCK

STREET

BUILDINGS DOES THE BLOCK FEEL SAFE?

how was this area once alive?

Getting Started

Identify a block!

st MONTH

Wide streets provide a great opportunity

for incorporating people and bikes.

Go directly to the block that you wish to revitalize. Invite the community, carry a bullhorn, walk through spaces.

Best are small and built to the sidewalk with no spaces in-between. Think main street or a former streetcar stop.

STRUCTURES

NEIGHBORHOODPROXIMITY

MOTIVATEDCOMMUNITY

WILLINGPROPERTY OWNERS

Highways, overpasses and large swaths of vacant land can make it tough to activate.

The closer the block is to the neighborhood, the more opportunity for

community ownership.

Area residents interested and excited about change?

Are they willing to co-organize and be

partners in the areas revitalization?

Don’t worry about getting them all, they will come around, focus on a few that want to partner.

After walking the block, meet at a site in close proximity to whiteboard ideas on what’s missing. This is a chance to give

people “permission to pretend”. This will open up the floodgates to possibilities beyond the status quo. Ask questions.

The community, its resources, and skillsets are what make-up the ingredients that go into building a Better Block. Identifying those resources and putting them to work is where the real energy behind a project begins. Innovation comes from marrying two different ideas/concepts together and “removing a zero” from your budget while maintaining a short deadline. Analysis paralysis and overthinking will occur if timelines and budgets are too large. Getting started is the key.

and giving them a block boundary to develop ideas and champion change creates a simple, understandable framework for people to begin working together. The short timeline lowers the risk of “I don’t have enough time” concerns that occur with large capital projects. Ownership now becomes shared by a community and the barn-building necessary to re-stitch a community together can begin.

If Naysayers begin taking over the process, invite them to build their dream

in this space as well. Give them ownership in the block and a chance to

test their ideas as well.

set a date at this meeting and launch the project on social media. This will “blackmail” your team into getting started and assure that you will not delay.

Activate vacant spaces w/ local merchants

Pop-Up Shops

rd MONTH rd MONTH rd MONTHRight sizing the street with bicycle & pedestrian amenities

Complete Street

Measuring the impact of the project will lead to a long term change

Metrics

Better Block Recipe

Coordinate the ingredients!

Here is a checklist:

Survey of Participants

Retail SalesCommercial Leases

Traffic Speeds

Street Changes

New Zoning/Ordinances

Traffic Noise

25mph65db

nd MONTH

Getting out of the townhall and onto the street:

Gather the community!

Don’t forget to...

Bike lanes

plazas

awnings

parkletts

cafes

cycle tracks

benches

STREETTREES

bikeparking

crosswalks

Find your local...

Aligning your trades together...what is missing in this area?

landscapearchitect

electrician plumber designer webdeveloper

BETTERBLOCK

1 Align the skills of

the community with needs for

revitalization

2 Create a concept plan

for the area using temporary materials and pop-up methods

3 Get a block party permit, insurance

and talk to city hall

4 Make a "needs list" for materials and

resources and distribute to community

5 Hold a block party

cleaning event

6 Get potential pop-up

shops into vacant spaces to chart temporary improvements and

enhance safety.

7 Create a "street team"

to devise a plan by walking, biking or

riding transit through project area.

8 “Blackmail” yourself with social media to advertise the great things you and your

group are going to do.

Clean it Activate it Sustain it

ART STORES BAKERIES BARBER SHOPS BIKE SHOPS

BOOK STORES

CLOTHING STORES COFFEE SHOPS CRAFT STORES FABRIC STORES

FLOWERSHOP

FRUIT STANDS GIFT STORES ICE CREAM STORES MUSIC STORES

NEWS STANDS

OUTDOOR SHOPS PET STORES PUBS RESTAURANTS

VINTAGE SHOPS

st MONTH

STREET

BUILDINGS DOES THE BLOCK FEEL SAFE?

how was this area once alive?

Getting Started

Identify a block!

st MONTH

Wide streets provide a great opportunity

for incorporating people and bikes.

Go directly to the block that you wish to revitalize. Invite the community, carry a bullhorn, walk through spaces.

Best are small and built to the sidewalk with no spaces in-between. Think main street or a former streetcar stop.

STRUCTURES

NEIGHBORHOODPROXIMITY

MOTIVATEDCOMMUNITY

WILLINGPROPERTY OWNERS

Highways, overpasses and large swaths of vacant land can make it tough to activate.

The closer the block is to the neighborhood, the more opportunity for

community ownership.

Area residents interested and excited about change?

Are they willing to co-organize and be

partners in the areas revitalization?

Don’t worry about getting them all, they will come around, focus on a few that want to partner.

After walking the block, meet at a site in close proximity to whiteboard ideas on what’s missing. This is a chance to give

people “permission to pretend”. This will open up the floodgates to possibilities beyond the status quo. Ask questions.

The community, its resources, and skillsets are what make-up the ingredients that go into building a Better Block. Identifying those resources and putting them to work is where the real energy behind a project begins. Innovation comes from marrying two different ideas/concepts together and “removing a zero” from your budget while maintaining a short deadline. Analysis paralysis and overthinking will occur if timelines and budgets are too large. Getting started is the key.

and giving them a block boundary to develop ideas and champion change creates a simple, understandable framework for people to begin working together. The short timeline lowers the risk of “I don’t have enough time” concerns that occur with large capital projects. Ownership now becomes shared by a community and the barn-building necessary to re-stitch a community together can begin.

If Naysayers begin taking over the process, invite them to build their dream

in this space as well. Give them ownership in the block and a chance to

test their ideas as well.

set a date at this meeting and launch the project on social media. This will “blackmail” your team into getting started and assure that you will not delay.

Activate vacant spaces w/ local merchants

Pop-Up Shops

rd MONTH rd MONTH rd MONTHRight sizing the street with bicycle & pedestrian amenities

Complete Street

Measuring the impact of the project will lead to a long term change

Metrics

Better Block Recipe

Coordinate the ingredients!

Here is a checklist:

Survey of Participants

Retail SalesCommercial Leases

Traffic Speeds

Street Changes

New Zoning/Ordinances

Traffic Noise

25mph65db

nd MONTH

Getting out of the townhall and onto the street:

Gather the community!

Don’t forget to...

Bike lanes

plazas

awnings

parkletts

cafes

cycle tracks

benches

STREETTREES

bikeparking

crosswalks

Find your local...

Aligning your trades together...what is missing in this area?

landscapearchitect

electrician plumber designer webdeveloper

BETTERBLOCK

1 Align the skills of

the community with needs for

revitalization

2 Create a concept plan

for the area using temporary materials and pop-up methods

3 Get a block party permit, insurance

and talk to city hall

4 Make a "needs list" for materials and

resources and distribute to community

5 Hold a block party

cleaning event

6 Get potential pop-up

shops into vacant spaces to chart temporary improvements and

enhance safety.

7 Create a "street team"

to devise a plan by walking, biking or

riding transit through project area.

8 “Blackmail” yourself with social media to advertise the great things you and your

group are going to do.

Clean it Activate it Sustain it

ART STORES BAKERIES BARBER SHOPS BIKE SHOPS

BOOK STORES

CLOTHING STORES COFFEE SHOPS CRAFT STORES FABRIC STORES

FLOWERSHOP

FRUIT STANDS GIFT STORES ICE CREAM STORES MUSIC STORES

NEWS STANDS

OUTDOOR SHOPS PET STORES PUBS RESTAURANTS

VINTAGE SHOPS

st MONTH