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Community and Economic Development Toolbox: Enhancing Downtown's Sense of Place Page 3 of 5 <br /> A sense of place is best experienced on foot. Therefore, a <br /> • commercial district with a strong sense of place has made <br /> strides to tame the automobile and to make pedestrian needs <br /> a high priority. <br /> 6. Human activity is vital to a sense of place. <br /> Regardless of its aesthetic qualities, a built environment <br /> requires the presence of people to produce a desirable, <br /> appealing place. Not only do people make a business district <br /> look more vital; they will in turn attract more activity since <br /> people are drawn to bustling, lively places. The level of <br /> human activity is a function of economics (multiple functions <br /> attracting diverse users) and physical setting (heritage, <br /> aesthetics, and pedestrian accessibility). <br /> 7. Downtown encourages people to linger. <br /> A sense of place invites people to stay longer than is <br /> necessary to conduct their business. People will be tempted to <br /> linger if a place is comfortable, safe, attractive, and <br /> interesting. The longer people choose to stay downtown,the <br /> more establishments they will visit,thereby providing an <br /> • economic benefit as well. <br /> 8. Downtown engenders a high level of community <br /> ownership. <br /> The question of community ownership is directly connected <br /> to the degree that citizens actually use the downtown. The <br /> higher the number of stakeholders,the greater the level of <br /> ownership and interest and the greater the potential for <br /> downtown to be integral to the overall sense of community- <br /> the idea that downtown is everybody's neighborhood. <br /> How can your main street enhance its sense of <br /> place? <br /> Most traditional business districts contain many, if not all, of <br /> the aforementioned elements. To take advantage of these <br /> amenities,which are not prevalent in the majority of newer <br /> commercial settings, main streets from coast to coast have <br /> utilized a variety of strategies. Here are some key <br /> enhancement strategies that have worked in communities <br /> throughout the nation. <br /> Creating a pedestrian-friendly downtown <br /> Many downtowns have striven to make the experience of <br /> walking more enjoyable by adding amenities for pedestrians. <br /> http://www.cardi.cornell.edu/cd toolbox_2/tools/sense_of place.cfm 6/21/2002 <br />