The Sociable City
Safe, vibrant and well-managed social economies need all four Building Blocks of a Sociable City.
That’s why we use a holistic framework to analyze a city’s social economy.
An alliance of stakeholders dedicated to nighttime governance is key to long-term success
Sociable cities anticipate mobility needs and create systems to maintain a high quality of life
Safety in social districts and within venues requires coordination among public and private partners
Vibrancy is created by the mix of social experiences in venues and in public space both day and night
Sociable cities require a governance strategy to sustain vibrancy, safety and management systems. Commitment to the vision of a social economy requires an investment in resources, stakeholder coordination, policy updates and dedicated staffing. Creation of a Night Manager position and an Office of Nighttime Economy have become the gold standard in North America to ensure long-term sustainability of the social, cultural and economic value of the social economy.
Smart growth planning for the social economy facilitates use of social districts at different times of day. High standards for quality of life and safe Mobility options to/from and within the district requires foresight to plan and the infrastructure to make it a reality. Residents expect a high Quality of Life, even in mixed-use districts. Peaceful coexistence requires clear community standards and timely management of sound, litter and waste. Updated policies, consistent enforcement and facilitated conflict resolution systems are essential. Patrons and employees in social districts need access to well-lit parking areas and safe rides home to prevent impaired driving. Coordination of Mobility options requires a robust transportation management plan for evening and late-night activity.
Social districts with active nightlife can be high-intensity environments with complex dynamics and risk factors. A continuum of stakeholders are invested in protecting patrons from violence, sexual assault, theft, underage drinking and impaired driving. Venue Safety is most effective when an organized alliance of nightlife businesses exist to formalize operations, elevate professionalism in the industry and facilitate coordination with compliance agencies. Public Safety ideally involves an interagency team of police, fire, code compliance, and others to collect and organize data, identify at-risk venues coordinate early assistance for improved compliance.
Vibrancy is created by the variety of experiences offered in Social Venues such as bars, restaurants, cafes, live music venues and other social spaces. Public space infrastructure such as outdoor cafes and streeteries, as well as pop-up vendors and street performers, when well-managed, can also signal the vitality of a district. Events and festivals are a way of driving vibrancy during daytime and evening hours on the public streets and sidewalks of social districts. Balancing the mix of programming in both brick and mortars and special events is an art and a science that can provide a seamless experience of vibrancy throughout the day and night—where the street in of itself is a venue.
Sociable Cities are built on Four Building Blocks: Governance, Planning, Safety and Vibrancy.
E-Hail | Safe Rides | Taxi Stands
Valet Parking | Transport Hubs Parking Safety | Traffic Safety DUI Prevention | Public Transit Hours | Street Closure
Pedestrian Safety
Sound Control | Trash Pick-up Cigarette Litter | Public Restrooms | Public Civility Resident Forum Vandalism Zoning Standards Mediation Agent of Change
Licenses | Closing Time | Crowds Officer Training | Ambassador Safety Alliance | Business Mentor CPTED | Crime Prevention | Early Assistance | Data Driven Strategy Permits
Safety Plan | Server Training Security Training | Nightlife Alliance | Customer Service | Age Identification | Patron Behavior Sexual Assault | Extended Hours| Community Forums
Outdoor Dining | Public Markets Vendors | Kiosks | Pedestrian Safety | Street Performer
Buskers | Food Trucks Accessibility | Panhandling Lighting
Performance Venue | Dining Venue | Social Venue | Calendars Craft Culture | DIY Events Demographics | Talent Development and Retention Economic Impact | Destination Marketing
