Vistry Group’s Post

Building inclusive spaces is an essential component of creating a robust, thriving community. When done well, it’s also one of the most effective ways to truly bring communities together in a more meaningful way than ever before. For example, Jacksonville’s Emerald Trail will encompass approximately 30 miles of trails, greenways and parks that encircle the urban core and link at least 14 historic neighborhoods to downtown, Hogans Creek, McCoys Creek and the St. Johns River. The trail links to 16 schools, two colleges and 21 parks, among other destinations like restaurants, retail and businesses, with 13 additional schools and 17 parks located within three blocks. Another great example is the Atlanta BeltLine, which continues to be built on a historic, defunct 22-mile rail corridor that loops around the city. The Beltline is a walking trail that connects a network of public parks, multi-use trails, transit, and affordable housing. It enhances mobility, connects intown neighborhoods, and improves economic opportunity and sustainability. And it’s been an incredible success. There are countless other examples, and in most cases they’ve achieved their missions thanks to thoughtful planning and inclusive execution. Finding ways to tie our communities back together for the benefit of all is what makes being part of those communities great.

"Work to improve #accessibility in Regina will move forward after unanimous approval from city council that will see a plan address issues from snow removal to transportation and employee training. In all, the initiative known as the Regina Accessibility Plan includes 17 recommendations on how to make the Queen City more approachable for everyone. “'This isn’t just a little bit of people, this is 30 per cent of the community,' mother Sarah Turnbull said. Turnbull’s five-year-old daughter Blake uses a #wheelchair. Blake is a familiar face at City Hall and is someone who has advocated for a more #AccessibleCity on numerous occasions. "Blake’s mother says her daughter faces daily challenges that even include using playgrounds around the city – due to wood chips or sand surrounding them. 'I like rubber parks,' Blake told city council. "City administration said the goal of the accessibility plan is to identify, remove and prevent barriers to participate in civic life. For 2024, the city set aside $100,000 for the plan." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/edCNYPC5 #AccessibilityNews #AccessibilityAwareness #AccessibilityMatters #AccessibilityForAll #AccessibleSaskatchewan #AccessibleRegina #AccessibleCanada #AccessiblePlans #BreakingBarriers #LevelPlayingField

I know this flys in the face of conventional wisdom and will upset a lot of people. But for communities to take meaningful action, they must know what makes their town centre, like the one in the picture below, work or not work. Quality outcomes need quality insights. And it is wrong to assume that the community has these insights. I see so much misinformed community doing, because authorities have bought into the myth that communities know what they need. The result is a lot of wasted effort on things that the community hopes will breathe new life into their town centre or neighbourhood, but which are totally ineffective. So if I argue that community consultation (as currently practiced) should be banned. I call our alternative "informed community doing".. Let's start with the "doing" part of this model. Community consultation is talk based. It is great if you want to generate an unaffordable wish list that is no-body's responsibility to implement (and for which there is probably no budget). In our model, the only idea that has any value is the one that someone in the room is willing to put their hand up and say "I'm willing to put some time and effort into making that idea happen". If your community engagement does not end with one or more project teams that have a plan for what they will DO, then the exercise has been a talk-fest only. However,this "doing" must be informed by quality knowledge and insights. To learn more about "informed community doing" see my book, "Revitalise Your Town Centre in 7 Weeks or Less". https://lnkd.in/gVzVymNR #placemaking #urbanism #urbandesign #towncentre #communityconsultation #communitydevelopment

As the new government moves at pace on their housebuilding announcements, it was very much a regeneration focussed week for me as well! Some highlights: 💺I attended a roundtable fabulously hosted by Browne Jacobson, focussed on community engagement in high street regeneration. Was such an engaging and lively discussion with peers from local government, regeneration, retail and health working across the country. Full note of the discussion to be shared soon! 🏗️ We held our first research workshop for our community powered regeneration project. This one was about what’s wrong with our current approach to regeneration and how we can start to change it. Great to have over 35 people online (including some old colleagues and friends) sharing their expertise and thoughts to help us with our research. We have our next one on Tuesday which will focus on the practical steps and examples of how we can do community-led regeneration well.  You can sign up here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/enx5nzh2 🫡 Great to be back working in Calderdale, kicking off our support for the development of a strategy for North Halifax. As a West Yorkshireman, always nice to be back and working in the "motherland". 🌟 What's struck me most from speaking with those who are working in regeneration is that there's definitely a feeling that community-led activity is becoming (and needs to be seen to be) much less niche in order for us to build the volume and quality of development that we need to. And there's so much interesting activity going on that we can all collectively learn from. We've not yet seen this same messaging from the new govt, but as momentum builds it will be hard to ignore.

'In the heart of Nottingham lies Bulwell, a community brimming with potential yet yearning for a touch of vibrancy and renewal. "Bulwell in Bloom" is more than just a project; it's a vision for a future where our streets burst with life, our public spaces invite connection, and every corner tells a story of community pride and natural beauty. This initiative is born out of a simple belief: that the environment we live in profoundly impacts our well-being, our relationships, and our opportunities. In recent years, we've watched as Bulwell, like many communities, faced challenges that have dimmed its vibrancy. Yet, within these challenges lies an incredible opportunity—an opportunity to come together, roll up our sleeves, and infuse Bulwell with the energy and life it deserves. "Bulwell in Bloom" aims to revitalise our community spaces, turning neglected areas into vibrant hubs of activity, greenery, and art. Imagine walking through Bulwell and finding community gardens where empty lots once stood, murals that tell our collective stories adorning once-bare walls, and parks that buzz with the laughter of children and the chatter of neighbors. But "Bulwell in Bloom" is about more than just beautification. It's about community empowerment. By involving local residents, schools, and businesses in the transformation process, we're not just changing the physical landscape—we're building a stronger, more connected Bulwell. This project is a catalyst for social cohesion, economic development, and environmental sustainability.' https://gofund.me/91acc3ee

Unlocking Opportunities: The Power of a Successful Council Approval Chris Miller Navigating the maze of council approvals can often feel daunting. However, achieving success in this area opens many opportunities for businesses and communities. A successful council approval is not just a bureaucratic victory; it’s a gateway to growth, innovation, and community development. This article delves into the transformative power of obtaining council consent and how […] https://ift.tt/3uD1WEH

CREB® engages in blanket rezoning talks at Calgary's City Hall Here's a recap of CREB®'s key points presented at the hearing: Local real estate dynamics: CREB® reiterated that real estate is local, with each community having unique characteristics and needs. A blanket rezoning approach fails to consider this diversity, potentially leading to negative impacts on community character, property values, and overall quality of life for residents.  Evidence-based solutions: Emphasizing the importance of evidence-based solutions, CREB® highlighted the lack of conclusive evidence supporting the effectiveness of blanket rezoning in addressing housing supply and affordability challenges. The organization stressed the need for targeted zoning measures and sustainable development practices tailored to specific areas and community needs. Transparency and community engagement: CREB® called for transparency and extensive community engagement in the decision-making process regarding zoning changes. The organization advocated for respecting the rights of property owners and community associations, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with stakeholders at all levels. Alternative solutions: In lieu of blanket rezoning, CREB® proposed exploring alternative solutions such as comprehensive neighbourhood plans, the creation of a Community Land Trust for affordable housing, utilization of municipal-owned land parcels, and the promotion of secondary suites and laneway housing. These solutions offer practical and sustainable ways to expand housing options without compromising community integrity. Overall, CREB®'s participation at the public hearing underscored our commitment to advocating for responsible and community-centric approaches to addressing Calgary's housing challenges. Source CREB (Calgary Real Estate Board)

Excited that our latest research report is out in the world 🌎 As Labour commits to ambitious housebuilding targets, NIMBYs have become a permanent feature of the news cycle. But contrary to popular belief, communities aren’t inherently anti-development. They’re stuck in a system that creates conflict by design. In Constructing Consensus, we argue that meaningful community engagement can reduce opposition, speed up development and create thriving places. It’s full of case studies that illustrate what a new system of development could look like – some of which I had the pleasure of writing. Including: 🏠 The UK's first senior co-housing community, made up of women over 50. At New Ground in Barnet, residents take joint responsibility for the building and look out for each other’s health and wellbeing – combatting isolation and enhancing their quality of life. ✏ A council in Hampshire with a ground-breaking approach. Test Valley Borough Council has prioritised community voice and taken a “bottom-up” approach to regeneration. Rather than consulting on pre-determined plans, the council began with a blank sheet of paper – securing buy-in and better development as a result. 🌄 The Glendale Gateway Trust that is transforming one of the most sparsely populated areas of the country through community-led regeneration. Over the best part of two decades, the trust has taken on property worth over £2.5 million, providing affordable housing, community assets and commercial premises for people locally. Read the report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ehpfVE9t New Local #housing #regeneration #CommunityPower #development #HouseBuilding

Well done to Kathleen Stokes and Michelle Connolly on the public launch of an outstanding policy paper ‘Opportunities and challenges of vacant above the shop units for residential use in Ireland’ in Dublin City University yesterday morning. An energised and experienced panel of Cian O’ Callaghan, Caelan Bristow, Emmet Humphreys , Paul Johnston and Jill Young chaired by Paul Gallagher of the The Housing Agency Ireland shared valuable insights and ideas on how to move the development of VATSU's from being an exemplar to being impactful. My main take away was that it is required to expand viability criteria for development of VATSU’s beyond simple financial considerations related to the build itself (cost per unit of restoration is prohibitive when considered alone- 2 to 3 times more expensive than new build) to include social, cultural and other elements. In reality the development of VATSU's is best suited to smaller AHB’s that can attract various streams of funding and have the local relationships required for smaller complex projects that involve considerations around developing vibrancy in urban settings in addition to simple number and cost of units considerations. Particularly positive input from Paul Johnston, senior engineer with Waterford City & County Council on what has been achieved in Waterford in recent years. The sense of realism throughout the event was also refreshing. Govt or local authorities cannot implement policy effectively without a client, a community that cares and is willing to engage and direct projects.  ‘We need someone to move back in so there is a natural appetite to change like what has happened in Boyle and Mulvaney’. Finally excellent points around ground floor commercial use in an age where the demand for physical commercial units is declining in our town centres. Community development, and cultural services are required to ensure urban vibrancy and should be considered for ground floor use in our towns and cities. Positive example provided of Ballyburke in Galway where ground floor space that would otherwise be designated as commercial has been developed as library, afterschool service and small café. Another positive example of this closer to our own doorstep- is Dublin City Council planned development of ‘Bridgefoot Street Court’ formerly designated for commercial use and vacant for 20 years as a community centre to be managed by Robert Emmet CDP / South Inner City Community Development Association (SICCDA). Overall a great morning that gives reason for cautious optimism!

I was recently asked a few questions in relation to the Preston Market!! HERE are my answers . Public acquisition of Preston Market will ensure the improvement, greening & community management of Preston Market. Do you support the public acquisition of Preston Market? Your question isn’t entirely clear. When you ask if I support public acquisition, are you referring to state, federal government, or council acquiring the market? When we speak about the Preston Market, we must acknowledge that the it is currently owned by three separate property owners. Are you asking about the market's footprint, the total land owned by Salta, or the other interconnecting two sites? I’ll need more context to fully understand and respond to your question. As a dedicated supporter of the market, I believe it's important to clarify these points before providing an accurate answer. My current campaign centres around "Protect what we Love, Create what we Need." Preston urgently requires biodiverse open spaces that foster community connections, especially south of Bell Street. So, yes, I strongly support the creation, implementation, and management of a much-needed urban revitalisation in our municipality. Places of social connection are paramount for all.