The most effective sense of security comes in being around people you know, and CoolTowns make that easier.  Most importantly, it reduces the fear of being unsafe, which keeps way too many people inside and perpetuates a vicious cycle of ever fewer people going out.  Here’s what investors are looking to do:

1. Create a high enough density of people to have ‘eyes on the street’ security at all times.
2. Attract a diversity of housing types, stores, restaurants, services and workplaces that

read more…

Here are the health-oriented town features that investors are implementing in the CoolTown model.

1. Genuine walkability.  I mean ‘genuine’ in that people will actually want to walk to destinations, rather than it being a theoretical possibility.  I see the word often abused as such.  Few people enjoy walking across parking lots, especially at night.
2. Enough fast food joints!  If you read the book Fast Food Nation you may never eat at one again.  You’ll see a lot more local businesses that

read more…

For regular blog viewers, you may notice that I end the weekly theme on Fridays with a blog on how investors plan on implementing these visions in a real town, a CoolTown.  Here’s how the group plans on helping enable a sense of community:

1. Focus on a target audience - in this case it’s the cultural creatives.  Learn as much as possible about the things they like to do, experience and prioritize.  Learn about their sub-groups as well, like the free agents.  This is the

read more…

The key obstacle to building these towns is NOT financing.  At least, that’s what progressive institutional investors are telling me.  It’s finding progressive governments that allow, and better yet, encourage the development of these kinds of towns.  The investors’ challenge is that they will provide the financing if municipalities present such opportunities.  I’m working with a collaborative of such investors that are committed to bringing the CoolTown concept to reality as vibrant urban

read more…