When we think about developing a city and attracting talent, a lot of focus is devoted to making places that are “cool.”
What is cool, though?
Is it a new beer garden? A skating rink? A community center?
Who decides what cool is?
Is it what brings the most attractive, high potential people to a space? Is it what develops the resident population for better futures?
There are fundamental tensions when we think about new development and placemaking. Is about bringing in new people, or developing and retaining the people we have? Is it about getting people to move here? Or about making this place a destination for tourists?
Obviously there are integrative solutions in each of these domains, but I think we need to have a more specific conversation about values and “coolness” as we make these crucial decisions.
Intentionality is cool.