Stewart Beal’s Post

The Power of Place: Why a Vibrant Downtown Matters The most important thing a community can do to improve its economy, attract tourism, and enhance residents’ quality of life is to create an attractive, walkable downtown. A place that makes people feel proud, joyful, and connected. When a downtown achieves this, it becomes a magnet for people—and where people go, businesses and investment always follow. Successful places don’t just look good; they make people feel good. They make us feel sophisticated, dignified, and inspired. Think about the spaces you love visiting. These places aren’t just functional—they evoke emotions that keep you coming back. When a community creates a downtown that fosters those feelings, it transforms into a vibrant hub of activity and opportunity. The best part? Every one of us already knows how to do this. Simply by being human, we understand what places feel good and which ones don’t. The spaces we want to avoid versus those we can’t wait to revisit. This isn’t complicated—it’s about creating environments where people naturally feel happy, comfortable, and connected. When you focus on making your downtown a place where people want to spend time, the benefits ripple outward. Businesses thrive. Tourism grows. Property values rise. And your community gains a reputation as a destination. These places stand out because there are so few of them, making them wildly successful by their very nature. Great downtowns don’t just attract people—they create lasting pride. And that pride is what fuels a community’s growth, stability, and future. This isn’t about fancy plans or big budgets—it’s about one simple goal: making people feel good. And when you do that, success will always follow.

Tastes have changed and the way to effectively market to people has changed as well. We seek out authentic experiences and would prefer to visit a place that people love to live, over places people only want to visit. Tourist destinations have grown cliche and full of tourists. People want something unique and fortunately every city and small town has just that to offer: unique businesses; unique buildings; unique heritage; unique events; a unique story. When we focus on making our cities and towns great places to live, we are simultaneously investing in the most effective marketing strategy. We are also creating the most effective economic development strategy. We are also creating the most effective new resident recruitment strategy. While tourism has its benefits and can add money and jobs to a local economy, it does not make a city a better place to live and in some extreme circumstances in fact, can do just the opposite. City leaders should take a look at their funding priorities and consider where they are investing. What efforts are being made to make your community a better place to live? This is not about the delivery of city services, it’s about what initiatives in your community will provide people with a richer, fuller life. Are you working to build bike trails, improve walkability, preserve historic buildings, add local businesses, facilitate a sense of community, improve the parks, make downtown more vibrant? These are the areas city leaders need to invest significantly more time and effort in. When cities improve in these areas, residents grow much more attached and engaged with their community and in turn, become the most effective marketing strategy available. It’s fine to invite folks over, just be sure to clean up first.

“When we focus on making our cities and towns great places to live, we are simultaneously investing in the most effective marketing strategy. We are also creating the most effective economic development strategy. We are also creating the most effective new resident recruitment strategy.” This is why our focus needs to be on community-driven placemaking - by the community, with the community, for the community. If we work with our neighbours, workmates, local businesses to support, maintain and create great local places people want to spend time in, we will attract more visitors, more investment, more opportunities. It starts with all of us caring about place: picking up the rubbish instead of walking past it, helping to scrub the ugly graffiti tags from walls, reporting damage instead of shaking our heads as we walk past it. It’s not someone else’s job - it’s everyone’s job.

Downtown Green Spaces ++ [reactivating downtowns/ main streets] Green spaces can serve as gathering places for residents, encouraging social interactions and fostering a sense of community where people can come together to attend events, and enjoy recreational activities. Downtown green spaces add aesthetic value to downtown areas, enhancing the beauty and attractiveness of the urban landscape. They create a sense of place and identity, making cities more livable and appealing to residents and visitors alike. Green spaces can enhance property values, attract businesses, and support local tourism. Also they can be a space for local entrepreneurs to showcase their work on special events. Tactic=Create Great Green Gathering Spaces

The World's Best Cities for 2024 - Where Would You Want to Live? The rankings for the most livable cities globally in 2024 just dropped, and I'm intrigued! As someone who loves to travel, I can't help but imagine what it would be like to call some of these places home. They span the globe from iconic destinations to surprising up-and-comers that are having a real moment right now. Cities with thriving economies, amazing cultural scenes, and off-the-charts quality of life. I've been lucky enough to visit a few of these world-class cities, but there are many I'm eager to see. If you had to pick one city from the top rankings to move to tomorrow, which would you choose? Or if you've traveled/lived in any of them, do you agree with their placement? For me, an amazing city needs that perfect balance of opportunity, culture, safety and amenities. And I’m partial to a rich history…. Whether you're an avid traveler or a total homebody, it's fun to get inspired by these world-class urban destinations! Let me know where you'd most want to live. First Class Homes 425.269.7229 https://lnkd.in/gEGq5qP8

Vienna’s top spot as the world’s most liveable city highlights the power of good infrastructure, social policies, and culture. I see this as a great example of what cities need to offer to attract and retain talent. When considering a move, it’s not just about cost of living, but quality of life things like safety, accessibility, and green spaces. What should cities prioritize to be more attractive for expats and families? How can cities help people feel at home?

Cities matter. Because places matter. Building a great business is about so many Ps. It’s about an extraordinary product (lucky I partnered with the world’s best gin distiller Cameron Mackenzie OLY). It’s about sharing that product with contagious passion (lucky I also partnered with the world’s greatest champion for Australian flavour Stuart Gregor). And it’s about inspiring people to come on the journey with you. At Four Pillars, we captured all of these priorities in the original purpose we wrote for ourselves and which kept us on course throughout our first decade. The fourth pillars of our purpose was about one more P, our place (although at the time we referred it as community). That commitment to place and community informed so many decisions, from our support for local causes to our focus on sustainability and treading ever more lightly on the planet. But there’s another side to place that really matters to us and to all makers of craft spirits (and frankly to everyone interested in the opportunities for Australian creativity…from creative entrepreneurship to creative arts). That place is our cities. I’ve been honoured to lead the Business Advisory Panel to the City of Sydney, chairing a diverse group from across every aspect of business and civil society, offering input and advice to the City of Sydney as it develops its 2025 – 2035 Economic Development Strategy. The strategy was launched last night at an extraordinary City Talks event which included the brilliant Kate Reid sharing her plans for Lune Croissanterie in Sydney plus an inspiring conversation between Australian national treasure Adam Spencer and the extraordinary Zareh Nalbandian , the Founder and CEO of Animal Logic. I won’t try to summarise the strategy here (I’ll pop the link in the comments). But I will share what I am proud to have advocated to see included in the strategy. My view is pretty simple. Sydney's economic growth, and our ability to create the jobs of the future while ensuring our city becomes an ever more inclusive, affordable, navigable, sustainable and innovative place (all of which are critical and interconnected ambitions) will rely on its vibrancy, liveability and appeal. On how it inspires joy and delight, delivering world-class experiences for the people who live, work and visit here. On its magnetic ability to draw people from around the world and to keep them here as they make their homes, build their businesses, chase their ambitions and create their futures.   I’m therefore thrilled to see the city’s Economic Development Strategy for the next decade is focused so strongly on the precincts and neighbourhoods that will ensure the Sydney of the future is a great experience city, with vibrant street life, a 24-hour economy, and diverse and deep cultural experiences to engage with. Helping Sydney, the city that is for so many the gateway to Australia, take its place as one of the great cities of the world.

𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧: 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀? Councils play a crucial role in revitalising towns by creating environments that appeal to both local communities and tourists. Their strategies often involve enhancing public spaces, fostering immersive experiences, and developing mixed-use areas that integrate entertainment, culture, and leisure. However, the key to success lies in councils getting the balance right between catering to local needs and attracting external visitors to drive economic growth. Key Takeaways: • Councils must balance local community needs with tourism appeal. • Investment in immersive experiences and mixed-use spaces is crucial. • Public space enhancement boosts community engagement. Learn more here https://lnkd.in/eSR2HyE6 ALACE Association of Local Authority Chief Executives Local Government Association Local Government Information Unit (LGIU)

Do you know, Brisbane is One of the World’s Happiest Cities! I stumbled across this article highlighting that Brisbane is the only Australian city to be awarded a Gold ranking among the world’s happiest locations. This recognition not only showcases the incredible lifestyle Brisbane offers but also speaks volumes about the community spirit, vibrant culture, and unique opportunities that make it such an attractive place to live and invest. For those looking to call Brisbane home or seeking an ideal investment opportunity, this accolade is a powerful reminder of why our beautiful city continues to grow in popularity. Whether it’s the great weather, strong economy, or the sense of community, Brisbane offers a balanced lifestyle that appeals to so many. If you're considering Brisbane for your next move or investment, now is the time to explore what this amazing city has to offer! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g9T4cDrt #BrisbaneProperty #InvestInBrisbane #HappiestCities #LiveBrisbane #BrisbaneLifestyle #RealEstate

When trees start to bloom then it's that time of year when Downtown Van releases our State of Downtown Report. We are incredibly proud of this one as it provides more insight than ever into Vancouver's city centre. Here are a few of the many findings that help paint a holistic picture of what the downtown Vancouver community is experiencing. 1) More people are coming downtown than before the pandemic. But they are visiting less often. 2) Economic conditions and barriers continue to make it difficult for storefront businesses to survive. 3) Now that downtown has completed its major office development cycle, sights are set on addressing Vancouver's hotel room shortage as tourism demand continues to grow. Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gB6HbZxk