Frame, Forest, Thread

Below, Field Operations imagines three potential redesigns for Cleveland's forlorn public heart, Public Square.

(Via Fast Company)

The ideas for Public Square's transformation come at the behest of two Cleveland non-profits, Parkworks and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance:

The economic rationale is that big, splashy public amenities are actually huge drivers of long-term real-estate values, attracting surrounding investment (just look at Central Park in New York, or, more recently, Millennium Park in Chicago). Though the plan has yet to secure any funding, the idea is that investing up front in the design might spark public interest and widespread support.

My sense is that the success of any of the schemes lies almost as much in the programming and scheduling of the space as it does in the form and texture. That said, the "thread" scheme is an early favorite, apparently.

More.

Comments

[Stephen gross]

This is a terrible and ill-conceived venture. Urban parks almost NEVER work as primary drivers of economic activity. At best, they complement existing economic activity and encourage secondary uses. Cleveland's public square is populated almost exclusively by daytime office workers, commuting service sector employees, and panhandlers. Improving the accessibility of public square itself will not result in significant improvement in the uses of that area. This is a great example of mistaking urban form for urban function.