8/29/12 – The Power is in the I.D.E.A.
We began the quest to realize the I.D.E.A. District in a very unusual way – no land control, no tenants, no capital. All we had was our conviction that an urban innovation district driven by a cluster of design+technology jobs, enriched by educational institutions and students, and nourished by the arts and artists was a powerful idea. Turns out we were right.
Today, we are on the verge of seeing the first physical signs of the District which will include the “Liberation” of the block between 13th and 14th, F and G. Under the guidance of the East Village Association, this block will become an outdoor laboratory of creative expression — the first (temporary) phase of what will eventually become the East Village Green. We are also in design on the first creative/studio building that will attract companies in the the space at the intersection of design and technology.
But we want to immediately start building the social and virtual dimensions of the District, and that’s why we are initiating this blog. Through our voice, and the voices of other contributors and commentators, we hope to spur conversations about topics that are vital to the success of the District like:
- the race for talent
- creative place-making strategies
- architecture & design inspiration for the built environment
- commentary on the collaborative social environment we hope to foster
- the connection between the I.D.E.A. District community and the virtual world
Ultimately, we want to be a vibrant forum for ideas and case studies that will inspire brilliant initiatives in the District.
This same desire to learn from other great projects and places is what motivated us to found the Global Forum on the Culture of Innovation. In partnership with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) San Diego/Tijuana and the Aspen Institute, we are gathering a group of noted professionals from a broad range of backgrounds for a lively discussion on what drives our cities. As an “in progress” model, the I.D.E.A. District is a living example of what the Forum will be discussing – sustainable, mixed-use cities where residents can work, live, and socialize within a walkable radius.
This Forum of two hundred talented and passionate people will gather in Balboa Park on September 5th and 6th to explore how we can create places that “grow more ideas per square foot.” All of the sessions will be taped and we’ll be sharing the video footage as it becomes available in the upcoming weeks
Please check in regularly and let us know what you think.
Dave and Pete
