Placemaking and Placekeeping
![Credit Zack Benson Courtesy of Gensler_Fifth + Broadway 1[1].jpg](https://cdn-ul.uli.org/dims4/default/ce4b679/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1205x677+0+261/resize/500x281!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk2-prod-uli.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2F2a%2F67a6e80c48ed84e3da6e2e06b218%2Fcredit-zack-benson-courtesy-of-gensler-fifth-broadway-11.jpg)
Can third spaces help downtowns bounce back from the pandemic?
How urban planners are turning public places into vibrant centers for living, working, learning, and socializing.
If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that our society’s deep desire to return to “normal” has sparked a reevaluation of what normal should entail. As urban populations continue to grow, and individuals look to reclaim their place in the community, the question arises: have our downtowns evolved enough to meet these new demands?
ULI’s Art in Place program has expanded with the addition of ULI France and ULI Germany, bringing the total number of participating district and national councils to eight. The program aims to connect artists, developers, and community voices to promote creative placemaking, which integrates art, culture, and creativity as levers of community revitalization.
In May 2022, the Hayti Heritage Center of Durham, North Carolina, co-sponsored a ULI Advisory Services panel with the Institute’s Foundation. The goal of the panel was to identify opportunities for intentionally inclusive development.
A new ULI report explores the social, environmental, and economic benefits of creative placemaking, along with successful case studies in the United States.
In February, Waterfront Toronto announced the winning submission for a new vision to transform a 12-acre (4.9 hectare) site into a community for residents and visitors to live, work and play.
Developers share how different cities deployed creative ideas to help maintain urban vitality and business opportunities despite restrictions on public gatherings. Their successful techniques may outlast the pandemic.
Bangkok mastered the art of glitzy retail palaces. Now, authenticity is the favored currency.
A member co-chair of the ULI Washington Diversity and Inclusion Working Group writes about the recent events in D.C. and beyond.