14. Better Block
Dallas and elsewhere / Team Better Block
What makes some city streets thrive, while mere blocks away, others flounder? Activists Jason Roberts and Andrew Howard in Dallas wanted some answers, so in 2010, they transformed a blighted street for 24 hours—adding bike lanes, sidewalk cafés, food stalls, and other amenities. A Better Block was born. These “living charrettes” demonstrate that obsolete zoning or commerce restrictions often pose obstacles to such things as outdoor seating or music, and they encourage communities to actively participate in the shaping of their own neighborhoods. City officials are now recognizing Better Block as a useful tool for showing potential economic development. In the past two years, 32 Better Blocks have been realized across the U.S. by the original team (commissioned by some city agencies) and by independent community groups.
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