The Portas 'Town Team' Pilot Scheme - A challenge to the GeniUS! Community

All four of our initial challenges are now closed for ideas however we still need your help. Welcome to our honorary 'fifth challenge'! Open until Friday 30th March.

York has an opportunity to take stock and look to build on the strengths of it’s city centre as a major economic asset. 

One resource that has been identified to start to focus this, a fund of £100k to create transformational change, starting with one city street, through the Portas ‘Town Team’ scheme.

High streets all over the UK are facing challenges with regard to changes in retail trends that will force an evolution of their services and the purpose of this challenge is to think positively about how we can act as a city to not only maintain, but actually promote the role of the city centre for the future.

The Council is already working with partners to bring together a city centre action and investment plan that will join up current initiatives – ‘Reinvigorate’, the ‘Core Strategy Action Plan’, the area-based initiatives like ‘Micklegate and Minster Quarter groups’ – and build on these to develop a clear and proactive plan for acting to support and promote the city centre.

Attached (see below) is a slideshow which provides some background information on the changes the City Centre has faced over the last few years.

But we also need your ideas and help!

The Challenges:

  • The spread of supermarkets offering needs-based services, like doctors and opticians often drive business away from the smaller city centre practitioners.
  • We need to understand what a good deal is for consumers, thinking wider than price towards wellbeing and long-term sustainability.
  • The cost of business rates for small or new businesses is currently high.
  • Lack of and expense of parking in town and city centres can cause additional problems for city centre businesses.
  • Owners of city centre property ‘sitting on’ their assets or leaving them empty rather than actively taking part in the city centre community.
  • High streets and town centres need to offer a mix, not just shopping – an experience.
  • Bridging the gap between the high street, the bricks and mortar and the online world.

So this challenge is to explore:

How can we positively address some of the current and future issues to ensure our city centre is a vibrant, lively and enjoyable place to be with all the services that it needs to have?

How can we reduce the current issues causing the city centre difficulties in terms of encouraging smaller and start up businesses, understanding what people need now and in the future and responding to a changing world?

How can we pilot some of your solutions, starting with one street (please suggest the street you have in mind), with a view to rolling out if successful?

Please do think outside the box!! All ideas welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: Although we are using the GeniUS! web platform to generate discussion and ideas, these will not be subject to same selection process as ideas under our four previous challenges.These ideas may or may not be used within a Pilot Scheme.

Tags: 'Town, Portas, Team', city-centre, economy, ideas

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Permalink Reply by caseymorrison on March 13, 2012 at 17:37

A BIG question!

Parts of the Portas reviwe was about how we use our spaces to live, not just as a place for financial transactions. So i think the interesting question for me is "how can we let anyone do what they want in our city or How can we bring poosibility back into public spaces..?"

  1. Playful Leeds are looking at the cultural offer (again breaking this idea of us solely as consumers but more of pro-sumers)
  2. We are your emporium is a social enterprise looking at getting more people a stake in retail by offering spaces for rent in a Mickelgate shop.
  3. Bishopthorpe is well worth looking at simply because it has its own home-grown identity - something that might fit with the micklegate quarter etc..
Permalink Reply by Katie Stewart on March 16, 2012 at 11:18

Some really interesting points and examples.  Micklegate is indeed an area that needs a bit of reinvigoration, but is now getting an injection of life with the social enterprise you mention, and indeed the Micklegate Action Group. 

You are right to say that it is about public spaces and ensuring that people see the city centre for its diversity - and the opportunity for interaction in these spaces.  Playful Leeds is a nice/different way of looking at the centre - really good find (!). 

Permalink Reply by carol whiteley on March 14, 2012 at 11:21

As you state there are empty shops in the city centre ( some with a lot of chracter) which does not make the area look to good.

 I am part of the enterprise group here in York, Just an idea that I have had for a while, would be to open one of the shops to allow local  Arty and Crafty people ( who may not be employed ) to display and sell their work. They could rent wall or floor space.  There are many talented people out there, this would give them a chance to develope their work further and importatly show visiters to our City just how good we can be, as well as being able to buy ar/craftt works made in York. 

 In all an idea based on helping others to get a start.

 

Thanks for your time.

Permalink Reply by Katie Stewart on March 16, 2012 at 11:36

... so rather than a trader having to rent their own space (which can be prohibitive), looking into a bit of "joint" space where traders can effectively split the cost.  There is a pop-up shop at Bar Lane Studios on Micklegate, and there is a social enterprise pop up that will be starting in Micklegate as well (see Charlie Mitchell's post below for details). 

Also - what about using market stalls for this kind of trading?  They are lower risk and very flexible - a bit more interactive than a shop...

Permalink Reply by Sydnie Corley on March 16, 2012 at 11:46

The renting of a space can differ in size depending on there equipments.

If they only have one or two piece of work then this can be sold as usual.

Market stalls for our idea wont work to the degree I am wonting to achieve (cosy inviting, crafty and inspiring) I would not like the security risk but

your right flexibility is a key factor and one that I have taken into account.

 

Permalink Reply by Sydnie Corley on March 14, 2012 at 11:59

Hi, I am the daughter of Carol Whiteley who has replied to this below, we are in partnership with our long running idea and my dream. I would just like to expand on her description.

I am a local creative person who has a Art and Design degree and loves the idea of putting it to use other than selling my prints of York in coffee shops. I like to think this will help in the running and setting up a shop.

I think there is a lack of art shops in York selling local art and craft items of the local people. There are plenty supply shops and creative people in York but no where to sell there work or to join in work shops in the centre of York.

My thoughts are to open a lovely little old looking shop. I have had my eye on the perfect shop on Lower Petegate in the perfect location with plenty of foot fall from tourist and York’s locals.

The idea is sell local art and crafts by the means of renting out spaces e.g. wall space, shelf’s, cabinet etc. This shop has three floors one I would like to add the opportunity to hold small work shops by renting out this space for local people to pass on there skills to others.

I would like to set up a web sit one which may consists of users being able to ask for possible commotion work if the artist is willing to provide this service. Promoting items that are in store, workshop and register clients interest in renting a space.

I believe that this is what York is in great need of to help the local community development it's creative side.

Thank you for your time.

Permalink Reply by Katie Stewart on March 16, 2012 at 11:41

Sydnie - you are right that there is a gap in the market, although setting up a shop is a big first step, and we are looking at a potential opportunity to develop our markets as an opportunity for enterprising individuals such as yourself to set up to trade and develop the fuondations for moving into more permanent accommodation.

It is a difficult environment for start-ups, and it is worth getting as much trading in before you moving to commitment of a lease on a shop.  It does, however, sound like there is some overlap between your idea and Casey's...

Permalink Reply by Sydnie Corley on March 16, 2012 at 11:59

I didn’t not know about Casey's idea but I think there’s anoth to differ and location is also a factor. I hope it goes well.

I agree with you in getting customers use to your company ideas. I would love this idea to work and a web site is the next step.

 I am talking to people to see if there interested in using the a possible space and selling with the shop.

Cosy coffee corner (not a coffee shop) is one of my ideas for maybe mothers and children locals to use e.g. knitting meetings, felting.

I think there’s anoth space in York to slightly overlap but not to intrude of course.

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Heather Niven on March 14, 2012 at 18:54
I totally agree Casey and with such a vibrant creative and cultural community, to encourage an atmosphere of playfulness, energy and inspiration would be amazing!
Permalink Reply by Heather Niven on March 14, 2012 at 19:00
Welcome to GeniUS York Carol and Sydnie!

Some super ideas here - and could also be enhanced with live recitals or book readings to encourage people through the door - maybe the social enterprise 'Arts Barge' group could help you out there. Maybe Oxfam book store could put a bookcase in there too with stuff for visitors to read (and buy) over a coffee on the couch??...exhibition openings...poetry...

Have a chat with Bar Lane Studios too, they are a social enterprise at the bottom of Micklegate and could give you some great pointers to help you shape your ideas.

Lots of possibilites for arts collaboration here.
Permalink Reply by Sydnie Corley on March 14, 2012 at 21:41
Thanks for your imput. Happy to near you think its all a great idea.
I hope it happens and works well. The interactive element your thinking on
Is a good idea, everyone lobe child hood games.
Some colour is always going to brighten up peoples moods
Which can only have a possative influence for Yorks crnture.
I think we need more seating areas. It stops people from staying if you can't
Sit and have a rest. Maybe this is one place you can add colure and design.
S compotion.
Permalink Reply by Sydnie Corley on March 15, 2012 at 17:06

Hi Heather

So what happens next?

Are you just getting together ideas and numbers of people that are interestest and is this something that is for the future?

I would love this to be a possibility that is it is thought well off.

I also understand there is a lack of studio space for Artist to use. I was looking for myself a few years ago now and gave up looking. If I had the money I would have brought a run down place to set this up in York.

York Uni and collage student have access to some small space and the local public find it hard to find any were.

 

 

 

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