How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline?

People are more likely to kickstart positive change in their communities when their voices are heard and their opinions are validated. By creating dialogue and offering feedback opportunities, we enable the feedback loops that are an important first step toward positive change. How might we create tools that enable and amplify these feedback loops? How might we help people vocalise their community’s needs, opportunities, shortcomings and potential? How might we ensure that all members of a community have access to opportunities to vocalise what they want for their area?

Many cities and regions in need of revitalisation are dealing with issues of space. Rather than seeing empty lots, vacant buildings and abandoned neighborhoods as indicators of decline, let’s consider how we can re-purpose, remix and reuse space to add vibrancy to neighborhoods. How might we encourage the remixing or hybrid usage of spaces, buildings and locations to infuse vibrancy in communities? How might we create tools to help communities navigate complex issues related to re-purposing space, including publicly- vs privately-owned space, legal uses of specific spaces and others?

Answers available at OpenIDEO