Changing the Mindset

Jeremy Till mentioned that “scarcity, weather real or constructed, might inspire us to widen the field of practice and allow us to operate more creatively.” This idea that using what is available to its best, usually unrealized, potential can create a new outcome that is not only more sustainable but starts to change how people think.

I going to mention Buffalo again. I know it well and it’s had its share of ups and downs. The waterfront of Buffalo was an industrial area. It is lined with abandon grain elevators and factories that have remained pretty much untouched since the mid 1900s. A waterfront, that one would think could be an advantage to a city, stood, barely, as a constant reminder of the successful past and how far the city had fallen. The economy continued to struggle and growing up you always heard that once you go to college you won’t come back. There were no jobs and very few people were invested in the future of the city. But now, less then 10 years later, the city is attracting people to move back and has invested in using what the city has always had to offer. With limited funds and a small economy Buffalo couldn’t follow the examples set from other “rust belt” cities like Pittsburgh. Buffalo had to think differently.  The biggest example of this is along the waterfront. The abandon grain elevators have been repurposed, using minimal interventions and inexpensive materials into a constantly growing project. Buffalo Riverworks used the industrial foundations as the starting point for sports facilities, climbing walls, restaurants, breweries, event space, river access, and has started the conversation on how can the rest of the grain elevators can be repurposed. The success and approach to the project has helped to change the motivations and outlook for the rest of the city. It comes down to the mindset and sense of ownership. What is possible and how can we do it ourselves?