The Competitive Advantage of Designing for Community | Richard Togman | TEDxLakeheadU

Key Concepts

Social Capital, Human Capital, Physical Capital, Strength of Weak Ties, Urban Planning, Walkable Diverse Spaces, Incremental Locally Oriented Development, Trust and Engagement, Community Land Trusts, Resilient Community-Oriented Growth.

The Crisis and the Opportunity

The video begins by establishing a sense of crisis at multiple levels: individual, community, national, and global. This crisis is characterized by:

• Social Isolation: Record levels of loneliness and social isolation.
• Distrust: Declining trust in others.
• Economic Insecurity: Rising inequality and economic insecurity. In Canada, income inequality is at the highest level ever recorded.
• Political Polarization: Increased political polarization and hateful rhetoric.

Despite these challenges, the video argues that cities and local communities have an opportunity to thrive by focusing on designing for community. This is presented as a key competitive advantage, especially for small and medium-sized cities that cannot compete with major metropolitan areas on economic opportunity alone.

Social Capital: The Missing Piece

The video introduces social capital as the third pillar of economic growth, alongside human capital and physical capital.

• Physical Capital: Tangible assets like tools and factories (e.g., a tractor for a farmer).
• Human Capital: Education and skills (e.g., an engineering degree).
• Social Capital: The connections and relationships between people. It's described as "social glue."

High social capital is linked to:

• Faster economic growth
• Political stability
• Less crime
• Higher mental health
• Higher voting rates
• Less corruption

The video emphasizes that social capital is essential for collaboration, innovation, and economic prosperity.

The Strength of Weak Ties

The video highlights the concept of the strength of weak ties, based on research by sociologist Mark Granovetter.

• Strong Ties: Relationships with family and close friends.
• Weak Ties: Casual acquaintances, friends of friends, neighbors, or colleagues.

Granovetter's research suggests that weak ties are more important for success in areas like job acquisition, promotions, and social life. This is because weak ties expose individuals to new ideas, people, and opportunities outside their immediate circle.

Jane Jacobs and Urban Planning Mistakes

The video discusses the work of Jane Jacobs, a pioneer in urban planning. Key takeaways include:

• Foundational Mistakes: Post-war urban planning has created antisocial and dysfunctional cities.
• Suburban Ideal: Separation of residential and commercial areas, prioritizing cars, has led to isolation and decline of local businesses.
• Micro-Scale Design: Houses designed with garages facing the street promote isolation.
• Macro-Scale Suburbanization: Drivable strip malls and big box stores have replaced walkable neighborhoods and local businesses.

The video argues that these design choices have resulted in:

• Less safety
• Less connection
• More loneliness
• Harder survival for small businesses

Designing for Community: A Competitive Advantage

The video argues that cities can attract and retain talent by designing for community. This involves:

• Selling a Richer Life: Focusing on community and quality of life instead of solely on high salaries.
• Strategic Choices: Making intentional decisions about zoning, development, and community building.
• Rebuilding Neighborhood Life: Creating walkable streets and mixed-use neighborhoods.

A rich life is defined by:

• Knowing your neighbors
• Shopping at local businesses
• Meeting friends at local spots
• A feeling of belonging and solidarity

How to Build Strong Communities

The video outlines key strategies for municipalities and community groups to build strong communities:

1. Designing Walkable Diverse Spaces: Creating safe and connected environments where people can interact easily.
2. Investing in Incremental Locally Oriented Development: Ensuring long-term financial and social stability.
3. Fostering Trust and Engagement: Creating opportunities for people to connect, contribute, and engage in collective action.

Concrete examples include:

• Investing in libraries and public parks
• Creating spaces for clubs and neighborhood associations
• Mandating spaces for small businesses in residential areas
• Embracing modest density (mid-rise buildings)
• Designing for public transit and active transportation
• Focusing on small neighborhood-scale revitalization
• Supporting businesses that act as community hubs
• Investing in street festivals and pedestrian markets
• Setting up community land trusts and financing affordable housing

Conclusion: Investing in Ourselves

The video concludes by emphasizing that building for community is an investment in long-term economic growth. By engineering social capital, building weak ties, and fostering local businesses, communities can create resilient and sustainable growth from within. The video advocates for investing in local people and businesses rather than relying on external saviors or handouts to multinational corporations. The goal is to create strong communities that attract talent and fuel future cycles of shared prosperity.