Some call it “tactical urbanism,” others, “pop-up cities.” By whatever name, several recent articles address creative ideas communities have come up with to brighten areas blighted by derelict commercial districts, stalled redevelopment projects, and vacant spaces left by natural disasters. In Christchurch, New Zealand, whose downtown was decimated by two recent earthquakes, small spaces are being put to temporary use while the city is being rebuilt. So far, a local developer has used grants and private donations to create garden cafes, art galleries, video arcades, and a public sauna.
The trend is also catching on in the U.S., attributed to the confluence of tough economic times; the emergence of a new kind of creative culture; stalled redevelopment projects; and the closure of urban factories and businesses. Pop-ups are a lighter, quicker, and cheaper way to bring visitors downtown than are traditional, capital-intensive megaprojects. An example of this strategy can be found close to home. Last summer, Bristol town planners created a temporary, pedestrian-friendly piazza on a vacant lot formerly home to a shopping mall. An estimated 20,000 people came to enjoy live music and tacos. Some cities have layered-in redesigned spaces, using them initially as test markets and gradually shifting them from temporary to permanent installations.
Tactical urbanism fans note the healing properties these projects can have in areas hard hit by natural disasters. After Hurricane Katrina, for example, artist Candy Chang turned vacant New Orleans buildings into community posting boards and gathering places. Similar uses might be suitable for property in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York communities razed by Hurricane Sandy.
