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ANALYSIS : AFRAMEWORK FORDOWNTOWNBLACKSBURG

CHAPTER 2

THE I MPORTANCE OF PLACE

Sense of place is a combination of all the elements that create the physical environments in which we live, work, shop, and visit. It is the part of a town that we see and interact with. Downtown Blacksburg provides opportunity to participate in those activities at various levels. Economics, market forces, and policies are “hidden” components that contribute to and shape the spaces we live in. Whether we are conscious of them or not, they can provide both opportunities and constraints in different aspects of a town’s sense of place. A town with a robust economy, for example, has more to invest in places than one without. A town’s sense of place can also strengthen its economy. Great places help communities attract and retain talent, improving their economic performance. Great places are more marketable for housing, jobs, retail, and visitors. Great places feel like home. Successful places bring people back over and over again. They can alter market forces. They can bend the curve. The six key components to a great place are: livability, walkability, vibrancy, navigability, dynamism, anchors, and amenities. When arranged properly, these foundational elements can greatly impact the functionality, appearance, and usefulness of a place. The roles they do and can play in Downtown Blacksburg are explored further on the following pages. Downtown Blacksburg has many features that contribute to quality of place. Many more opportunities exist to build on this momentum and further enhance Downtown.

LIVABILITY

NAVIGABILITY

WALKABILITY

DYNAMISM

41 Downtown Blacksburg Strategic Plan

VIBRANCY

ANCHORS & AMENITIES