The United States is dotted with cities and towns that came of age in the Industrial Revolution. Their glory days long past, many of these cities are in search of solutions — how to replenish diminished populations, how to attract and nurture new industries, what to do with an aging infrastructure — that are as daunting as they are vital.
The Capital Region's three largest cities — Albany, Troy and Schenectady — face those very challenges. Convincing arguments can be made that they are stuck in neutral or are slipping backward. But others can point to positive developments — new businesses in the region, the rehabbing of former urban warehouses for residences and the relative strength of core regional industries like education, health care and government.
But few would argue that these cities are in optimal positions. The question then becomes how do we get to optimal. Optimal, of course, does not mean perfect.
There are many ways to revive a city. Albany's 2030 Plan is one of them. These formal plans can mobilize the forces necessary to solve some of the problems that cities face. But other approaches, those that are more organic and grass-roots, can be equally if not more powerful. Richard Florida, in his book "The Great Reset," writes that:
"There are three key attributes that make people happy in their communities and cause them to develop a solid emotional attachment to the place they live in. The first is the physical beauty and the level of maintenance of the place itself — great open spaces and parks, historic buildings, and an attention to community aesthetics. The second is the ease with which people can meet others, make friends and plug into social networks. The third piece of the happiness puzzle is the level of diversity, open-mindedness, and acceptance Is there some equality of opportunity for all?
"Can anyone — everyone — contribute to and take pleasure from the community? My own work with cities across the United States and Canada and around the world convinces me that none of these things can be accomplished by government-sponsored megaprojects. Instead, they are organic in nature and require real leadership and the active engagement of the community."
Engaging the community, in all its diversity, is key. One often overlooked group that needs to be included is artists — those who actually possess the creativity necessary to solve problems. Artists have the discipline and creative thinking skills that can be put to use in practical and powerful ways. They should certainly be part of the conversation as we seek ways to revive our cities.
So how do we get artists, and others who have good ideas, to get engaged? We simply ask them.
The Arts Center of the Capital Region recently launched the (Re)Imagining Troy Project. We are calling on regional residents to think of ways that Troy can become an even more livable city. A panel of local stakeholders will choose the 25 best ideas submitted, and we will then share them with the community.
We think it is appropriate, if perhaps a bit unconventional, to have a center for the arts and creativity see itself as a force behind urban renewal. But if we can leverage the creative thinking that resides in artists and other residents of our region, we will all be better served.
People talk about the way our cities used to be — bustling, vital, innovative. The core ingredients for revival are still here, just waiting to be called forth.
Christopher Marblo is president of the Arts Center of the Capital Region. His email address is chris@artscenteronline.org. For more information on the (Re)Imagining Troy project, go to www.artscenteronline.org/reimagining-troy.