Imagine a downtown where interesting and beautiful places keep you wanting to walk further, to see more and experience all of the diverse activity that surrounds you; (kinda like the feeling you had the first time you visited City Museum). I envision a place where people would prefer to not have a car when living in or visiting downtown because of how it takes away from the vibrant experience and sense of adventure one gets just from being there.
What if we rebuilt downtown to be a fully livable, self-sustaining community that has everything one needs for a happy and healthy life, (like groceries, parks, schools, jobs, etc.) all without ever needing to get into a car?
But let's not stop there. What if we built a place that was truly invigorating... a place that daily inspires creativity and sparks the innovative and creative juices waiting to be unlocked in each of our brains?
We can use lessons learned from neuroscience to inform how we create such a place that stimulates our neurons. We can even tap into the brain hacks that gaming and social media companies have used to design this place by creating a compulsion loop that:
1. triggers interest,
2. provokes action (i.e., walking one more block, checking out a store/event/piece of art, etc.),
3. provides a variable reward (things change and you never know what you will experience from one day to the next), and
4. entices an investment (time, money, talent, etc.) back into the community so that each resident or visitor can leave their finger print on the place - which then triggers the interest of the next person.
Let's not make the mistake of thinking that we need to build back what once was, (i.e., a central business district where people come for their 9-5 and little else).
Downtown hitting "rock bottom" is our chance to build something entirely new and different. It's time to think outside the box.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Let's start a discussion!
"My partners and I have resisted recent pressure from our own employees to “move west” because we want to be part of the solution to some of the challenges of our region, in this case a vibrant downtown."
?? Steve Smith, CEO of Lawrence Group & New + Found ?
We can change perception of downtown highlighted by Wall Street Journal | Opinion - St. Louis Business Journal
bizjournals.com
Independent board member/CEO with proven record of managing large global technology, retail/distribution and service firms with focus on sustainable profitability, culture and ethical corporate performance.
8 个月Can't wait to see the new facility and pay a long overdue visit!