Developing a Regenerative Placemaking Framework – Future of Cities
by Alexandra J Tohme
Regenerative Placemaking involves re-igniting our relationships with the natural environment, with our neighbors and communities, and cultural heritage.
Future of Cities (FOC)is developing the “Regenerative Placemaking Framework” to guide urban developers, planners, architects, sustainability experts, mayors, real estate investors and more — for all those who have a role to play in the regenerative development of the built environment. This toolkit is meant to serve as a guide, scorecard and standards framework to ensure that the maximum potential of any project can be reached for environmental, social, economic and cultural benefits.
Our framework is centered upon three core pillars for development: community, nature and culture — which act as the foundation to development, and starting point to delve into 11 issue areas (and many more) for innovative policy solutions. On the one hand, we note that all issue areas have interconnection with other areas and policy domains. And on the other: the 11 is not an exhaustive list, but an example of critical issues facing the areas we (and our partners) work in.
Community 𑇐 Nature 𑇐 Culture
Community Engagement Activities at PHX-JAX to hear from and learn from local residents on the aspirations, concerns, and dreams for their neighborhood.
In fact, what we promote — is for policymakers and project managers to work with local communities, ecosystems and cultures in order to identify the priority issue areas that should be addressed in the first place. Each locality has its own set of needs and aspirations — our toolkit helps you find out what those priorities are.
“Regenerative Placemaking is a development approach that protects existing neighborhoods by co-creating sustainable, eco-friendly and inclusive projects, emphasizing participatory planning, cross-sector collaboration and financial prosperity for the community.”
Our Framework is promoting this methodology in order to reach the greatest investment returns and impact on social, economic, environmental and cultural levels.
To do this, each development project must start with deep listening and understanding of the local community, natural ecosystems, and cultural heritages & identities. By focusing on opportunities rather than problems, we catalyze and unlock the amazing potential of a place to boost equitable development and returns on your investments.
Regeneration means contributing to the value-generating processes of the living systems of which we are part. It is both a science and philosophy, to regenerate life, and adopt a new thinking and approach. According to Merriam Webster, “the act or process of regenerating,” is both the renewal or restoration of a bodily part or biological system, and it is also spiritual renewal or revival. In this sense, we can think about our three pillars — community, nature and culture — as the living systems that need renewal and revival: so that our cities can flourish, our economies prosper and our planet can regenerate.
With this framework we provide a dynamic playbook that offers best practices and case studies from around the world, strategies, ESG incentives, economic returns, and more that can be adopted across industries and sectors.
Join us for an eco-getaway at the gorgeous nature preserve and luxury eco-retreat at ChoZen, in Sebastian, central FloridaTanya Watts our Director of Neighborhood Affairs and Emily Moody, Director of Community Engagement at PHX-JAX.
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Become a Regenerative Placemaker and join in co-creating the future of cities with us as we work together towards a more regenerative future.
Subscribe to our newsletter at focities.com to get involved, email me at: ajtohme@focities.com and follow us on Instagram.
