Renew Hempstead a driving force behind the areas $2 billion mixed-use redevelopment

Renew Hempstead, one of the state's first Crowdsourced Placemaking communities, has become a driving force in the area's $2 billion mixed-use redevelopment. Comprised of residents of the village and village stakeholders, Renew Hempstead is a grass roots community dedicated to the Triple Bottom Line revitalization of Hempstead's downtown. The redevelopment, being undertaken by Renaissance Downtowns-Urban America is one of the region's largest transit oriented redevelopments and is expected to break ground in early 2013. The Triple Bottom Line philosophy revolves around social, economic and environmental responsibility with an emphasis on community participation throughout the redevelopment process and the inclusion of locally owned, independent businesses within a re-envisioned downtown. This approach to public inclusion within large scale redevelopment efforts is the brainchild of Crowdsourced Placemakers LLC, a company that is working with Renaissance Downtowns to employ the program throughout the Northeast, and eventually nationwide. Renew Hempstead's web portal www.renewhempstead.com, which was launched only a few months ago already has nearly 600 members, each of whom has signed a pledge to abide by the Triple Bottom Line as they upload ideas and concepts that they would like to see included within Hempstead's redevelopment plan. Types of shops, stores and amenities that include a movie theatre, a recreational center and a hotel/catering hall are included amongst the dozens of options that have been suggested to date. Members of Renew Hempstead can then vote upon the ideas that they like and the developer, Renaissance, conducts feasibility studies on the concepts which garner the most votes. The feasibility studies provide a feedback loop to the community to determine which ideas can be implemented and determine strategies by which the uses, stores and amenities that residents support can be built. Renew Hempstead is Long Island's first Crowdsourced Placemaking effort, which introduces the concepts of crowdsourcing (taking a process that had been undertaken by a company in house, and outsourcing it through an open call to an undefined community represented by individuals who choose to provide their input and ideas into the process) into placemaking efforts such as downtown revitalization and redevelopment. To meet the needs of Hempstead's diverse population, which includes a large Spanish-speaking population, the website has language translation capabilities that include an innovative mechanism for members to "crowdsource" better translations that those which may be currently provided. The Renew Hempstead community works hand in hand with Renaissance, along with the village in a true partnership approach. This cooperative framework provides a positive atmosphere for development leading to public support for the efforts while demonstrating market demand for specific uses. When Renaissance determines a business to be feasible the company and the members of Renew Hempstead look to attract investment from local entrepreneurs who wish to open up businesses that have clear market viability as determined through the feasibility study. As stated by Brandon Palanker, vice president of marketing and public affairs for Renaissance Downtowns, "The opportunity for residents and stakeholders to have a real voice in the process is essential in creating a redevelopment vision that truly represents the wants and needs of the community. I am proud to work with such an enthusiastic and passionate group of people who are working collectively to make downtown Hempstead a vibrant hub for people to live, work, learn, shop and play." In addition to the online forums and voting application, Renew Hempstead hosts a number of in person events-meet-ups, "chat and chews" and other venues for Renew Hempstead members to discuss how to implement the ideas they wish to see included in the redevelopment. Moving forward, efforts such as local Cash Mobs and festivals will be held to reinforce the community's desire to spend their money locally, support independent businesses and continue to build up the local economy. "As someone who grew up in Hempstead and is a graduate of Hempstead High School, it is an honor to be able to work with the community I care so much about. We really are fostering change, and we are doing it through a grass roots, bottom up approach. To see how many of my fellow residents want to participate and make this vision a reality is something really amazing" said Latoya Sanders, community liaison for Renew Hempstead.