Creative Placemaking

This report explores how creative placemaking can help revitalize communities with vacant properties. It begins by highlighting elements and impacts of creative placemaking, which include empowering residents to envisioning a more useful space, encouraging communication with and between community neighbors, and building stronger partnerships between local practitioners. Case studies feature arts and culture strategies used to revitalize vacant properties in Kalamazoo, MI, Wilkinsburg, PA, Newburgh, NY, and Macon, GA. It concludes by summarizing takeaways and lessons, such as the role of incremental change, recommendations for overcoming regulatory challenges, and information on funding strategies.