THE NORFOLK BETTER BLOCK
Norfolk Builds a Better Block
Meet, Greet + Imagine Granby Street – The Better Block Project this weekend
NORFOLK – A block of Granby Street from Olney Road to Addison Street will come alive this weekend for Meet, Greet + Imagine- Granby Street = The Better Block project.
Join the City of Norfolk, Team Better Block and hundreds of volunteers on Friday April 12, 2013 from 5:00pm-9:00pm and Saturday April 13, 2013 from 9:00am-3:00pm.
Once vacant properties will transform into pop-up retail, cafes and art galleries, public art will enlighten drab walls and temporary bike lanes and landscaping will turn this auto-heavy two lane road into a walkable, bikeable experience.
“Better Block provides an opportunity to envision the possibilities in an underutilized area,” said City Manager Marcus D. Jones. “It provides small business owners an opportunity to run their business and the city the data to discover ways to better serve them.”
Media wishing to cover the pre-build are welcome to attend Wednesday, April 10, 2013 5:00pm – 10:00pm or Thursday, April 11 2013 from 5:00pm – 10:00pm at Studio Co-Lab 810 Granby Street. Most of the materials are donated. Volunteers will be hammering, sawing, hanging lights, painting and more!
Team Better Block will also create plans for future Better Block events at Five Points and 35th Street.
The Better Block approach has been used in over forty cities, from California to New York, to illustrate rapid street changes and community revitalization. These cities have reported greater understanding and urgency by elected officials, leaders, and citizens for permanent change. Team Better Block is a service offering best practices, guidance, and professional services in urban planning, transportation design, and community development.
The community walk held on Saturday March 9th attracted over 100 people to Granby St @ Olney to uncover ways to make the block better. Team Better Block has accomplished over 40 projects in three nations and we always say we are only as good as our partners. The people we have met in Norfolk are shaping up to be some of the best we have ever worked with. Thank you all for coming out to the walkabout, signing up to take action and sharing your ideas and energy in making a Better Block.
Over the coming days we will begin organizing teams to work on bringing life to this emerging arts district. We will create a plan to activate the vacant spaces with pop-up shops, new public spaces, public art, artist incubator space, a listening room, coffee shop and a calmed street. Stay tuned. If you have not already signed up to volunteer please use the red button on this page.
What Does Team Better Block Do?
Team Better Block works with communities to temporarily re-engineer and re-program streets into complete ones. Over a weekend our team and local residents, property owners, and volunteers create a demonstration of a vibrant block.
Where Is The Project Being Conducted?Why Are Team Better Block’s Temporary Rapid Revitalization
Projects Important?
The Better Block approach has been used in over forty cities, from California to New York, to illustrate rapid street changes and community revitalization. These cities have reported greater understanding and urgency by elected officials, leaders, and citizens for permanent change.
Team Better Block is a service provided to you by the City of Norfolk offering best practices, guidance, and professional services in urban planning, transportation design, and community development. The bulk of a Better Block occurs at the neighborhood level and is an opportunity for you to demonstrate a vision for your community and motivate change rapidly.
The first Norfolk Better Block will be held on North Granby at Wilson Street. The date is April 12th and 13th.
What Can I Do To Help?
The Better Block is an opportunity for you to demonstrate a vision for your community and motivate change rapidly. Get Involved! Ever wanted to paint a bike lane, run a coffee shop or build a plaza? All Norfolk residents are invited. Sign-up today http://teambetterblock.com/norfolk/volunteer-form/
Please attend our informational session and review our website for best practices http://betterblock.org/
THE BETTER BLOCK SCHEDULE
Team Better Block is proud to partner with emerging leaders in the Norfolk Arts District to conduct the Norfolk Better Block. The following schedule will guide the project:
Friday 3/8/13
3pm to 7pm Better Block meetings with property owners
Saturday 3/9/13
9 -9:30am Volunteer and Community Orientation Meeting (Location: Corner of Granby Street & Olney Road)
9:30 – 10:30am Community Walkabout
10:30 – 11:30am Better Block Team Formation and Next Steps
Noon – 1:30pm Better Block Leaders Workshop
Tuesday 4/9/13
5pm – 10pm Better Block pre-build workshop @ 810 Granby St, Co-Lab
5pm – 5:30 Pop-up Shop Team Meeting
5:30 – 6pm Street Team Meeting
6pm-6:30pm Marketing Team Meeting
7:00pm Public Art and Wayfinding Team Meeting
Wednesday 4/10/13
10am – 4pm Team Better Block Consultation@ 810 Granby St, Co-Lab
5pm – 10pm Better Block pre-build workshop @ 810 Granby St, Co-Lab
Thursday 4/11/13
10am – 4pm Team Better Block Consultation@ 810 Granby St, Co-Lab
5pm – 10pm Better Block pre-build workshop @ 810 Granby St, Co-Lab
Friday 4/12/13
8am – 2pm Mobilization
2pm – 4pm Set-up
5pm – 9pm Better Block
9pm – 10pm Take-down
Saturday 4/13/13
7am – 9am Set-up
9am – 3pm Better Block
3pm – 5pm Take-down