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The Livability Challenge
- About the Livability Challenge
- Livability Challenge Summary Report
- Final Presentation to Indianapolis Stakeholders
- Adrian Benepe, NYC Dept of Parks & Recreation
- Lily Yeh, Barefoot Artists
- Don Carter, Remaking Cities Institute
- Deborah Marton, Design Trust for Public Space
- Will Rogers, The Trust for Public Land
- David Rubin, OLIN
- Local Stakeholder Presentation
Although it has not always been easy to measure the impact of such quality of life amenities as parks, art and first-rate architecture and public places, it is increasingly clear that investments in these things have powerful positive effects on cities and their citizens.
In addition to providing places of respite and recreation, green space has positive, measurable impacts on adjacent property values. The sales premium on property within 100 feet of a park of any size is 24 percent. Green space also enhances storm water management and keeps cities cooler. When arts are ever-present, they encourage participation, which leads to a flywheel of other positive spin-offs, including more creative people who then attract more creative people, making places more interesting and diverse. And the best architecture and design creates places that people love, places they want to live in, visit and come back to.
“Inspiring places” are magnets for people, becoming cities that engage their citizens more powerfully. Cities are increasingly being judged by their “quality of place,” as Americans choose the places they want to live based, in part, on their physical appeal and their vibrancy.
Investing in beauty, nature and art are among the most significant demonstrations a city can make about its distinctiveness – the unique and often intangible characteristics of a place that comprise its one truly defensible competitive advantage over others. These distinctions build affinity among a city’s residents. And communities with the greatest affinity felt by citizens are those communities that are most successful and experience the highest economic growth.
On October 11-13, 2010, CEOs for Cities and the Central Indiana Community Foundation hosted the Livability Challenge in Indianapolis, home of the spectacular Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Working with a team of national livability experts led by Will Rogers, president of the Trust for Public Land, the Livability Challenge explored the future of livability as expressed in the Declaration of Interdependence: We can enjoy beauty, nature and art every day.
In addition to producing big ideas and quick-start strategies for Indianapolis, results of the Livability Challenge will be reported nationally as part of a book, generously underwritten by The Rockefeller Foundation, as well as a promotional tour and national policy platform.
Questions? Contact Julia Klaiber at 202-525-5627.
