About The AIAPrograms & Initiatives

Sandra S. Dennehy, AIA
Dennehy Architects, 2003 President, AIA Fort Worth

We have lived in an inner-city neighborhood for more than 25 years. During that time, we have watched an adjacent commercial corridor, which was once a thriving, pedestrian-friendly brick street lined with mom-and-pop stores and several large department stores, decline into a fast-flowing vehicular thoroughfare, dotted with closed-up shops and car-oriented fast-food joints. The cause of the decline was twofold. At the same time that suburban sprawl was moving upscale shopping out to the malls, the city decided our beloved street needed to carry more cars, provide more “trips.” With the expansion of the street from four lanes with head-in street parking, to six lanes of through traffic with a seventh, middle, turn lane, the street changed from being a destination itself to merely a way to get from one place to another. While the decline was slow, it was steady and, by the mid-1990s, was complete. And this decline bled into the surrounding neighborhoods.

Then came the opportunity. A reporter from the local newspaper ran a story about the decline of the inner city in general, using a photograph of our street for visual emphasis. What an awakening! A meeting was hastily called to discuss what could be done, and more than 300 interested neighbors, business owners, and residents showed up at the local high school auditorium to discuss possible solutions. We threw street dances to raise awareness. We met regularly with the mayor and City Council representatives. We grew in political strength and became a presence to be reckoned with. Our efforts are going into their eighth year and, while the number of people who are regularly involved is not that initial 300, the support we have gained over the years is much stronger and more broadly based, including neighborhood associations, business owners, several churches, our local school district, and the university that anchors one end of the street.

This grassroots effort has forged a tremendous partnership between citizens and city officials, one that through the years has made a difference not only in our street but also in other central-city streets that have been similarly affected. Through our efforts, we have been allocated Capital Improvement Program Bond Funds for the redesign of our street into a viable, pedestrian-friendly, commercial corridor. We have also raised awareness of the plight of other such corridors, so much so that the City Council, acting on recommendations from the Planning Department, has set as a priority the revitalization of these corridors. The Central City Corridor Revitalization Program has designated 12 other such inner-city corridors and, with the update of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, has incorporated these corridors in designated Urban Village Growth Centers. These designated growth centers are accompanied by larger Neighborhood Empowerment Zones that have numerous incentives for redevelopment. This citywide urban revitalization effort proves the power of “one”—it all began with one small group of citizens concerned about the decline of their commercial corridor!

As architects, we can bring a wealth of expertise to our communities, enabling similar grassroots efforts to be successful. The built environment is what we are all about, and who better to advocate for livable communities than those in the design profession? You can spend as little or as much time as you are able, but the main ingredients are concern and passion. If you care about the communities where you live, the schools your children attend, the air you breathe, all those quality of life issues, then getting involved should be second nature. The rewards are great and as endless as the opportunities, from the relationships that you build to the more tangible rewards of affecting the built environment around you. And don’t wait for the opportunity to materialize; you can make it happen. It just takes the first step, one that is easier than you think!