Dancing in the Street

Callin' out around the world… Are you ready for a brand new beat?

It’s Spring 2023. Three years since the world shut down and we experienced extreme isolation. It was then that we learned the power of communal joy and the fundamental need we have to be together IRL to converse, celebrate, and yes, dance.?

Thankfully, life is mostly back to normal. Restaurants are crowded. Stadiums are full. Concerts are sold out. Downtowns are… empty.

While spending time with hospitality entrepreneur and festival guru Chip Conley at Modern Elder Academy, we discussed the value of gathering as a way to heal broken and traumatized communities (trauma from the pandemic, violent protests, political divisiveness). When people spend time together, they feel better individually and the community is healthier as a whole. Chip has a fascinating manifesto on the topic of Why We Gather, inspired by his experiences attending 36 festivals in 16 countries in one year and various hospitality ventures, including as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy.?

In an excerpt, he talks about a term coined by sociologist Emile Durkheim called “collective effervescence”: It can only be achieved by being physically present with a group of people and surrendering to its greater energy, ethos, actions. You suddenly find yourself being lifted and carried by a wave greater than you.

This collective effervescence phenomenon is life giving. It fulfills you on a deep, human level. And it only happens when you are connecting with people IRL. My conversations with Chip impressed on me the responsibility we have as developers, particularly of mixed-use districts, to create places for gathering and streets for dancing. The health and happiness of our communities depend on it.?

It's just an invitation across the nation, A chance for folks to meet:?

We also see measurable real estate value that comes from creating these magnetic gathering spaces – we call this value creation the Third Place Effect. People are attracted to places that make them feel love and elation. Places where they exchange energy and ideas. Retailers, office users, hotel guests and residents pay top dollar to be part of these environments. We have seen this play out in both suburban and urban markets.?

Consider Colony Square in Midtown Atlanta. Our relentless pursuit of creating human energy and a complete reimagining of the street-level led to a 66% increase in office rental rates over a five year period. Consider Peachtree Center, less than 2 miles down Peachtree Street in Downtown Atlanta. Following a similar capital improvement plan, but not nearly as radical of a human energy strategy, the property went into foreclosure in Fall 2022.??

There'll be laughing, singing and music swinging, Dancing in the street:?

Back to those empty downtowns. Maybe the cure is more streets for dancing: High quality street-level design; pedestrian-safe sidewalks that promote walkability; activated restaurant patios; dedicated gathering spaces; numerous well-executed events; colorful art on walls and crosswalks; and those surprise and delight moments that make you want to put your phone down, find your dancing shoes and be carried away “by a wave greater than you.”?