Bringing 365-day activity to communities

“How can we get people to use a place 365 days a year?” is the question that Live Work Learn Play asks as it goes about planning, improving, or reviving a town center, says Max Reim. The firm avoids chain operators, but encourages outstanding businesses that have just one or two locations to consider opening a new outlet in a place like Habersham — or moving their existing operation there. Elements such as sun, shade, lighting, and proper seating are studied so that people will feel comfortable gathering throughout the day and sometimes into the night. Adds Ryan Bloom: “The first thing we do is look at the availability of patios, and plan restaurants around the patio space.” The firm applies its techniques to a variety of communities. In September, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, contracted to have LWLP work on creating a mixed-use neighborhood and a potential college town in Livingston, New Jersey. The firm is also about to start work at Saxony, an 800-acre mixed-use development near Indianapolis. Meanwhile, LWLP will act as developer — a new role — in creating a mixed-use “vertical village” in downtown Montreal, in partnership with a residential developer.