“A workaround is a bypass of a recognized problem in a system. A workaround is typically a temporary fix that implies that a genuine solution to the problem is needed.”
Andres Duany has just launched a project with the Knight Foundation, which seeks to accelerate city revitalization by helping citizens and entrepreneurs work around cumbersome regulations. The first question today on a webinar between Andres and Carol Colleta VP of Knight foundation was how can we apply Lean Urbanism across a broad spectrum of US cities?
Better Block uses the special event permit process that is found in every city to demonstrate changes to the street, seed entrepreneurs, and test zoning codes. Here is an example from a recent project in Norfolk, VA were Team Better Block identified limitations in the zoning code and then empowered young entrepreneurs to test the market with new business ideas. Better Block documented what worked and then city staff created a workaround to the zoning code that made the temporary changes permanent:
Pop up Shop Alchamey NFK in Norfolk VA during Better Block April 2013
Building was first an auto parts dealer, then a furniture store that was put out of business when the Ikea came on the bypass. Now what do you do with all this space?
During Better Block the building was host to a Market, Maker Space, Coffee Shop, Beer Garden and Skate Park…where does that fit in the zoning code?
The pop shop wanted to go permanent, but how do you make it legit? City staff found a workaround by calling it a beer serving flea market!
So we need both the agitators and the experts to work together to make our cities better. This process gets around the non-contributors, the people that say changes will not work, and gets to the folks that have ideas and the will to find a way to make it happen. Cities that get this will excel and attract the greatest talent to them.
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