Did the places I once enjoyed change? No, just me. Because I foolishly learned, from a design perspective, how bad they actually were.

Focusing on what connects people to community is one way to navigate the treacherous waters between gentrification and disinvestment.

It seems everywhere I turn lately I stumble my way into a conversation on creative placemaking — people looking at the activation of public space as a way to further their personal and collective passions and pursuits. It’s heartening. I’m a firm...