Abandoned lots and litter-strewn sidewalks, or rows of meeting spaces and pockets of wildflowers? Graffiti-marked walls and desolate buildings, or shady refuges and comfortable seating?What transforms a dingy, inhospitable area into a dynamic gathering place? How do individuals take back their neighborhood?
Neighborhoods decline when the people who live and work there lose their connection and no longer feel part of their community. Recapturing that sense of belonging and pride of place can be as simple as planting a garden or painting a weather-worn door or prettying up sidewalks and windows.
Any community can be improved and enlivened, not just by vast infusions of cash, not just by government, but by the people who live and work there. Ideas addressing such challenges as traffic control, crime, comfort and safety, and developing economic vitality are some of the issues at hand when discussing Downtown Belleville. There are wonderful conversations taking place as we speak to revitalize the core and I for one am quite pleased by this.
The evidence is apparent that change is beginning to take hold down here. As you stroll through the downtown core you will notice facades have been updated and improved, new businesses have taken up residence, landlords are re-designing upper level living spaces and improvements for safety are on the way in. These are just some of the improvements I've noticed. What have you noticed?
As wonderful as all the changes have been the magic towards transformation lies in the people! People in their community enhancing their own neighborhoods through the process of transforming public space — it's about the magic that happens when individuals take small steps, and motivate others to make change.
What Downtown magic can we create as a community? Please share!
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