The Four Key Elements of Dynamic Districts

There’s a reason some areas are great places to live. Discover the elements that create vibrant, thriving neighborhoods and see how Brick & Bond is using them to shape Casper's Old Yellowstone District into a dynamic community hub. 

We’ve all experienced it. There’s a feeling we get when we spend time in a neighborhood that’s alive. Whether it’s a small town like Spearfish, SD, or a thriving neighborhood tucked into a larger city, like Northside in Bozeman Montana, some places have an energy and unique sense of place that sets them apart. 

At Brick & Bond, we’re driven to create these kinds of neighborhoods. Our vision is to foster development that builds community and forges connections to establish places that thrive for years to come. We call these dynamic districts. We’ve given a lot of thought to what makes them work, and we’ve identified four elements that are key to their success. 

Keep reading to discover what these elements are and how they’re being woven into Casper’s Old Yellowstone District. 

1. Mixed-Use Development

Many of us grew up in neighborhoods that contained only houses. If you wanted to visit a store or a restaurant, you’d have to hop in the car and head to a different area of town. These neighborhoods typically seem dynamic approximately twice a day: When everyone leaves for work or school in the morning and when they all come home in the evening. 

In contrast, neighborhoods that remain alive throughout the day include homes, businesses, cultural centers, and institutions like schools all within close proximity of one another. In such a neighborhood, it’s possible to live, work, shop, and play, all without having to commute.

Mixed-use development has several advantages. For one thing, it’s convenient. You don’t have to waste time constantly traveling to different parts of the city. It’s also good for your health. It promotes walking and eliminates the stress of sitting in traffic. It’s safer. People are around throughout the day, meaning more eyes on the streets and less crime. Finally, and most importantly, it promotes social interaction. By bringing the different components of life together in a more compact area, you’re more likely to bump into people you know, building a sense of community and belonging that has a large positive impact on well-being.  

2. Complementary Businesses

As we’ve already noted, mixed-use development means including businesses among other types of buildings. For a neighborhood to thrive, however, those businesses need to be carefully selected. In particular, a district requires a mix of businesses that can create growth and dynamism. 

How does this happen? There are two principles at play: synergy and diversity. 

Synergy refers to the way different businesses can enhance each other’s vitality by meeting related needs or interests. For example, a coffee shop and a bookstore next door to each other make perfect sense. When you’re enjoying a coffee, it’s nice to peruse the shelves looking for your next read. And when you want to settle into a chair and sample a book, having a hot drink in hand elevates the experience. Similarly, a restaurant next to a business provides a place for workers to meet informally over breakfast or lunch while giving the restaurant a stable source of customers nearby. 

Diversity consists in having a broad array of different types of businesses in the same area. In addition to coffee shops, bookstores, offices, and restaurants, a dynamic district will also include service businesses, shops ranging from boutiques to hardware stores, and more. This ensures a broad customer base and enhances economic resilience. 

3. Public Art

Aesthetics are an essential aspect of what makes a great neighborhood work. People avoid ugly places but love to spend time in attractive ones. Architecture and landscaping are both important contributors to the beauty of a place. Public art plays a unique role, however.

For one thing, it is a democratic form of expression. Few will be involved in designing a neighborhood’s buildings, and architecture subordinates aesthetic concerns to more practical matters like cost and functionality. In contrast, public art has the potential to engage many in the process of creation, encouraging involvement and community connection. 

Moreover, public art has the unique power to shape, express, and sustain a shared sense of identity. It helps create a sense of place that serves as a powerful anchor for a sense of belonging. 

4. Third Places

Ray Oldenburg, an American sociologist, published a paradigm-shaping book, The Great Good Place, in 1989. In it he argued there were three foundational places where life unfolds: at home, at work, and at third places. 

So what’s a third place? These are places where people gather voluntarily, informally, and regularly. They are places where we build and maintain friendships. They are also places that facilitate interactions with strangers, widening our sense of community. Examples of third places include coffee shops, diners, community centers, and pubs.

Third places fulfill a crucial role in weaving the social fabric. Not only do they provide fertile soil for friendship, but they also promote social equality as people from different backgrounds mix. They are also a venue for discussions of local and national politics that cultivate thoughtful and active citizenship.

This element is listed last because it necessarily builds on the foundation of the others. A third place situated within a mixed-use neighborhood helps ensure the regularity needed for relationships to form. Compare this, for instance, to a coffee shop in a strip mall in a big city’s shopping district where you’ll never see the same person twice. Complimentary businesses nearby help provide the critical mass of customers throughout the day to keep the doors open. Finally, public art helps create an identity and atmosphere that draws people to spend their leisure time in an area. 

A Developing Dynamic District: Old Yellowstone

With these elements in mind, Brick & Bond has been an active partner in the ongoing development of the Old Yellowstone District in Casper. Each one is already present. The neighborhood is mixed use, with restaurants, businesses, shops, and residential options like the Nolan townhomes all within an easy walk. The businesses complement each other, with a growing synergy and diversity in the area. Public art has a prominent place as Casper becomes known for its many murals. And third places ranging from Black Tooth Brewing to Metro Coffee Company are creating community by providing unique venues for regular connection. 

And we’re just getting started. As housing, businesses, and more are added to the area, these elements will work together to continue to enhance the dynamism you can already feel on the streets of Casper. By laying the right foundation today, we’re establishing a path of sustainable development that will build a neighborhood known for its vibrant sense of community long after we’re gone.