[UPDATE: Thanks to the DAA for the clarifying point that this was simply the title of the annual report and is not going to become the new motto.]
“Downtown: As Austin As It Gets” could be replaced with “Downtown: Everyone’s Neighborhood”
This is what appeared on the DAA’s annual report (pdf).
I think I understand the DAA’s motivation for a new tag line. It reaches out. It acknowledges [and I agree] that downtown Austin is different and lots of people use downtown. The new tag line is a reminder that downtown respects input from the entire city.
BUT, once neighborhoods outside of the urban core decide what is NOT best for them, then whatever that is gets deflected back into downtown, de facto. Calling downtown “Everyone’s Neighborhood” leaves downtown as the catchall and invites less progressive neighborhoods to continue to ignore the environmental and economic need for density, transit, and social services in their own backyard.
Jude,
Thanks for taking time to chat with me yesterday. Each year, the DAA creates a theme for our annual report through visuals and text. As you mention in your update, “Downtown: Everyone’s Neighborhood” was simply the title for our 08-09 annual report. The goal of the title was to convey that
everyone in the community has much to gain from a dense, vibrant downtown. We want people to care about what happens to downtown. We want everyone to understand what it means to have a vibrant urban core and how achieving density in downtown is beneficial for the entire community.
When brainstorming ideas for the title, I spoke with several different
folks, including DAA staff and consultants who work with us on our strategic
planning process and the biennial survey, among others. I wanted to find a
way to evoke a feeling of solidarity and excitement for the DAA’s strategic
plan and vision of building a dense, vibrant downtown filled with cultural,
retail, business, residential and recreational opportunities for everyone.
And of course, I wanted to accomplish all of those things in a few words.
It’s not as easy as it sounds! 🙂
After our chat yesterday, I can see how some might perceive the report title in a different way, but I hope you can glean what we were shooting for. I
also hope that folks take a few minutes to read the content of the report to
see how the DAA plans to accomplish the goals laid out in our strategic
plan, and what we’ve accomplished during the last year towards reaching
those goals.
I’m really glad you shared your thoughts. Please keep the ideas coming!! I’m currently accepting ideas for the DAA 09-10 annual report title!!