CityPossible: Weird is Good

What is W e I r D ???

Healthy, vibrant downtowns need to be places where diverse groups and opinions converge. Where new ideas are born and shaped. Where social tolerance is embraced and cultural diversity is celebrated. Where people of all incomes, ages, races, ethnicities and sexual orientations can rub shoulders. Where we can celebrate "weird."

Not "science fiction" weird. But "unique, different and authentic" weird. Downtowns need to be places that offer and promote authentic experiences -- in contrast to the bland similarities the suburbs offer.

The People's Republic:
Vermont and the Sanders
Revolution by Greg Guma

Downtowns are where our community's cultural identity is preserved and celebrated -- those weird, unique attributes that make a community stand out.

In Burlington, our history of progressive politics and social tolerance are part of our cultural identity.  Our historic buildings, art galleries, farmer's market, Church Street characters, and locally-owned stores contribute to our cultural identity, as well as our vibrant music and art scene and our popular community-based festivals. The more unique, original, quirky and weird, the better!

What Does Weird Look Like?   Here are some of the ways weird infiltrates our cultural identity.

Locally-Owned

In 2000, a grassroots movement was started in Austin called "Keep Austin Weird.” born out of concerns that the city's rapid development would result in a loss of the community's cultural identity.

Portland, Oregon embraced the weird bandwagon in 2003 with its own campaign, Keep Portland Weird.
Both campaigns have become a clarion call for promoting locally-owned businesses.

Burlington's downtown has the unique advantage -- a balance of national retail chains (located primarily in Burlington Town Center) and locally-owned stores and restaurants (located on Church Street and in the downtown). Our local retailers have learned to leverage the marketing muscle of national chains by locating near them. They understand that consumers are drawn to the national brands, and wind up discovering their locally-owned stores. The key to being a successful local retailer is offering products and services that complement what the nationals are offering. Our local retailers tell us everyone can benefit in this setting.

Nationals do help to draw people to our downtown, but locally-owned stores are a reflection of our community; it's crucial that we nurture them. Compared to national chains, locally-owned businesses recycle a larger share of their revenues back into the local economy. They support a variety of other local business by creating opportunities for accountants, advertisers, purchased goods from local companies. A dollar spent at a locally owned business sends a ripple of economic benefits throughout the community. To learn more about the importance of locally-owned businesses, see 10 Reasons Why Vermont’s Homegrown Economy Matters: And 50 Proven Ways to Revive It, a 2003 collaboration from Stacey Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and The Preservation Trust of Vermont.

Rebellious Non-Conformity

Occupy Wall Street protesters march north
on Church Street Marketplace, October 2011.

Healthy downtowns need growth -- growth in business, growth in residents, growth in visitors. Growing the tax base allows a city to provide the services that sustain a good quality of life for citizens. But downtowns must balance that growth with a wariness for gentrification, income inequality and social polarlization. In her book Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Places, Sharon Zukin cautions against an over-pursuit of "authenticity." The very people who bring authenticity to a city -- immigrants, working class, and artists, for example -- can be easily driven out if real estate prices escalate.
Downtowns must be inviting for everyone, and growth and development must be tempered with social tolerance and multi-culturalism. Church Street is a commercial center, AND a community center. As Burlington's town square, it's the place for protests, vigils, rallies, non-profit tabling and non-profit solicitation. Following the murder of Travon Martin, for example, Church Street became the natural meeting place for a community vigil.

Burlington has the highest concentration of retail and dining businesses in the region. It also has the highest concentration of social services in the state. Where else but Burlington would you find a high end retail store within a few feet of a shelter for homeless youth? Or, a needle exchange program in a residential neighborhood? Love it or hate it, you'll experience this kind of diversity in our downtown. To be successful, there needs to be a healthy balance of both. If the balance tips one way or the other, we risk creating an atmosphere that is either sterile or unsafe.

Events Designed for Locals

Rule number one for creating a downtown event: build it for locals and others will come. Tourists make up a smaller percentage of those who visit our downtown. At any time during the year, locals are always in the majority. So, it makes sense to create events and activities for residents. Tourists are drawn to our events, precisely because they're designed for a local audience. We have some pretty weird events that occur throughout the year.