Local Toowoomba creatives support main street revitalisation
Photo credit: @estherterrestrials
As communities around the world are looking towards COVID-19 recovery, one regional City in Queensland, Australia is using an attested yet creative approach to bring life back to their main streets.
In a Queensland-first trial of the Renew Australia model of Newcastle fame, the ‘Creative CBD Toowoomba program’ will see empty shop fronts made available to creatives, entrepreneurs and not-for-profits looking to trial a brick-and-mortar space. It is a very timely exercise for Toowoomba Regional Council. During community consultation on their City Centre Master Plan, Fourfold Studio heard from one participant that "room for buskers/entertainment, markets, pop up artists..." was something of interest. Often missed within City Centre Master Plans, the social and cultural layers of life that support small business and entrepreneurs can play a significant role in driving a thriving economy and place identity.
Engaged by Council to initiate the program in Toowoomba, Fourfold has been laying much of the groundwork for the first year of the trial, which will see six spaces in Toowoomba’s CBD activated. The program’s model aligns well with our experience and specialist service offering in trader engagement and alternative governance models for local centres. Fourfold has enjoyed working with Toowoomba Regional Council and Renew Australia as we share a belief that the small scale is often where we find the most opportunity for rapid transformation.
People are drawn to places that are active, which offer many opportunities to explore, socialise and engage. The Renew model helps cultivate an active street scene whilst providing space for creative entrepreneurs to grow their businesses within a temporary, low risk environment. The system also supports landowners by maintaining an attractive ‘for lease’ shopfront that is more appealing for prospective tenants. User experience is maintained, if not enhanced, and neighbouring businesses are less likely to experience the negative impacts that come from high rates of vacancy. This is particularly important during challenging times, such as those experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, where many businesses are struggling to survive. The Renew model for growth is organic, evolves with people’s needs and utilises places and spaces that are adaptable, accessible and flexible.
The proven systems and guidance offered by Renew Australia has allowed for Fourfold and Toowoomba Regional Council to simplify commercial real estate agreements whilst engaging local creatives, CBD traders and building owners along the way. At the heart of Toowoomba’s identity are local creatives and entrepreneurs and we cannot wait to see them breathe life into the city’s vacant main street shops.
“Great places come from organic experiments… They are discovered as much as they are planned… It is from the smallest of scales that grand possibilities can be built up.” – Marcus Westbury
Visit http://tr.qld.gov.au/creativeCBD for more information and to register expressions of interests.
