Sometimes I throw out a token question to people I am speaking with that goes something like this…”if you could snap your fingers and tomorrow x would happen, what would it be?” and it is usually asked in the context of what store, or shop, or activity would you snap into existence.
Well I ask the question this morning in regards to people moving inside the city limits. “What one thing, if you could change tomorrow, would you do to have a positive impact on people moving to the city?”
I am not sure what what most would say, but my answer is 1000 true fans of our downtown. What would it be like to have 1000 people who were nuts about everything that goes on in downtown, that you could just count on them showing up. And if we continue to give these fans what they want, do you think they would bring a friend? The operative here is giving them what they want. A question tossed around without much commitment.
So here is how it could work. We start an “exclusive” downtown Portsmouth fan club. Everyone cannot get in, you have to be approved. So we start taking applications for the club, and select 5 ultimate fans. These fans would field the email applications to become a fan and approve membership. Then we get them interacting with each other. The online tools available to make this happen are cheap and numerous.
As membership grows and people start talking, we need to set back, listen, and respond. So how does this increase population? It allows people that are connected, whether or not they live here, the opportunity to help make things “cool”. Most people desire to live in cool places, don’t they? And many people move to cool places, don’t they? Some people would say we need jobs first, or infrastructure first, or housing first. My comment to that is…
“Make it cool, and they will come.”
2 responses so far ↓
blaine chamberlin // August 1, 2009 at 2:06 pm
hahahahahaha,please excuse the laughter,if you make it cool they will come….as a former tax paying citizen of portsmout ohio ,i can honestly say this is the dumbest idea ive ever heard ,actually its no idea at al.just more bullshit ,from those who love the status quoisnt an exclusive club,such as the one you advocate here the very thing that has made portsmouth the shithole it is today?????
craig deatley // August 1, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Why did you move to Va? I am sure it was not because it was a more horrible place to live than your previous residence. Most likely there was something more attractive about the area. So I am right, if you make an area more attractive, it is more likely that people will move there, as I assume you did. You really should follow up your criticism of my idea with a GREAT one of your own. Who knows maybe we will get on board and make it happen.