Life of a community is a delicate theme, continuously it carries the power to change the physical and social environment, yet what are the essential elements that touch the beauty of these corners & give it a look of loyalty, affecting the community as a whole? How far does the word community even go & where does it begin? 

A weekend walk through a neighborhood in each of two smallish cities in a temperate climate. We’ll assume they’re similar in most ways – demographics (age, ethnic and racial background, income, etc.), geography (landscape, distance from the center of town), amount of open space, a mix of residential and commercial buildings, and the architecture of those buildings.

As we begin our walk through the first city, we notice that many streets lack sidewalks, and the ones that do exist are often cracked and broken. Trash clogs the gutters, covers the neighborhood park, and blows around in the wind. Many lawns have more bare dirt than grass, and there are few flowers or shrubs in anyone’s yard. Trees are noticeably absent from the neighborhood as well, and many of the small but well-built houses have peeling paint or missing siding. Knots of young men huddle mindlessly at the edges of the empty park, glaring as we walk by. In the commercial areas, storefronts are dull but often have huge, garish signs. Traffic roars down the main streets and many of the smaller ones as well, and the noise is everywhere, even in residential parts of the neighborhood. The overwhelming impression is of a loud, barren, dirty, charmless place.

In the second city, sidewalks and bike lanes in good repair wind throughout the neighborhood, and are well used by residents. The wider streets have central islands alive with flowers, and every house seems to have at least one tree in its yard and another between the sidewalk and the curb, many with flowers and shrubs planted around them. Yards are grassy and often have well-tended gardens. Houses are neatly painted, many in interesting colors. A city park is full of people picnicking, playing sports, and walking the signed nature trails that lead through woods and by a stream. Businesses on a commercial street are welcoming, with displays outdoors. Smaller streets have speed bumps and other traffic controls, and there are benches and bins of flowers on sidewalks. The noise level is a pleasant hum, giving a sense of a relaxed, enjoyable environment.

These descriptions are obviously extreme & overly specific, but we’re all familiar with places that are ‘alike’, but feel very different. The physical character and the feel of a neighborhood have a great deal to do with each other, and neighborhood beautification isn’t just a matter of impressing the neighbors or trying to make everything “perfect.” It affects the way people interact, and the way they feel not only about their neighborhood but about themselves and their neighbors. As a result, it can make a huge difference in the quality of life in a neighborhood or a city.

So, once again, what are the interchangeable elements that are capable of adding to the allure of cities’ gravel?

A so-called informal term that we are using here is beautification, which in this case means making a neighborhood look and feel better. While the residents of some neighborhoods may be concerned with forcing their ideas of beauty and acceptability on others, most simply want their neighborhoods to be livable and pleasant. Neighborhood beautification, if it’s approached with the right attitude, can lead to more interaction among neighbors from diverse backgrounds. Coincidentally the neighborhood's look and feel attract new residents and businesses while supporting both economic development and a sense of community.

It is not a single “Fix Up Your Yard Day” event, but rather a strategy to maintain, enhance, and/or change the character of the neighborhood over the long term. When we may approach particular elements of the program one at a time, but also when our focus remains to be a long-term vision for the neighborhood.

Neighborhood beautification can take place both on a whole-neighborhood level and on an individual property level. The ideal is that both come into play, with both larger bodies (neighborhood organizations and coalitions, municipal government) and individual property owners involved.

Depending on the current condition of the neighborhood, the process may range from addressing a single building or area to a nearly complete makeover of the whole neighborhood. In either case, there are a number of aspects to consider as we think about what might benefit from change:

Cleanliness, Harmony & variety of buildings, condition of individual buildings, dangerous sites, greenery & planting, parks / open spaces, streetscape, lighting, parking, etc, public art.

Now, let’s spill & put a few words together towards the last one:

A traveler who seeks out street art will be rewarded with insights into a city’s social, cultural, or political dynamics as well as the artistic aesthetics of a particular neighborhood. What was once counterculture, displayed on the societal margins, has through the decades evolved many times over to include a viable form of public art that can contribute to the success of communities and businesses in an ever-changing urban environment.

Prominent yet delicate example of street art? Murals.

“Murals are a powerful tool in the fight against blight. They serve to be a deterrent to vandalism and can be used not only as a tool to encourage economic growth and community development but also as a way to empower emerging artists.” Zachary Meers, General Services Department, City walls Manager.

From Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program to Banksy’s art on the Packard Plant in Detroit to the Mural Conservancy in Los Angeles to Wynwood Walls in Miami to the Painted Desert Project with the Navajo Nation in New Mexico and Arizona to Chicago Public Art Group to murals all over Houston, mural magic is here to stay, and here to lighten up urban ecosystems. 

As the theme of exposure continues to develop due to the influence of artists’ presence, we witness the change of how material, information & products get to be delivered outside of the neighborhood roof into the wild abroad recognition. Exactly how & why the business value is entering a new stage of its recognition. For one, anyone who has ever stepped in the arena of the creative world knows that it takes diligent dedication to be noticed, as realization also relies heavily on work of promotional visibility. As for the latter, what brings more awareness to the artist’s work? Galleries. Festivals. Ted-talks. Open-air events. Charity. Luckily there are places being built & developed that combine all of these avenues.

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