Community is at the center of how we approach all our work and has particular resonance in our economic development practice in partnership with both public and private clients.
Our approach revolves around the unique character of an area, its surroundings, and the people who frequent it. It is not a one size fits all method, but rather a ground up process that incorporates the voices of local stakeholders to ensure an authentic, resonant end result. We believe community development supports an important transformation in the minds of the people who use a space, not simply in the space itself, which is why we strive in all our projects to bring together diverse stakeholders to envision and develop what is possible. To further facilitate this collaboration between the public and private sectors, our expertise includes the creation of public private partnerships and entities like business improvement districts (BIDs) to help ensure an area’s sustainability and growth.
Our team has extensive experience in urban revitalization efforts and brings complementary expertise in a variety of fields related to real estate development, investment attraction, urban and graphic design, marketing, and communications – all of which enable us to take a holistic and comprehensive approach to our engagements, whether large-scale visioning projects, stakeholder engagement processes, or nuts and bolts operations.
Community Food Hub
POSITIONING THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER TO COMMUNICATE ITS BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE
In the wake of the global pandemic, The Campaign Against Hunger developed a bold vision to create a Community Food Hub to expand food access, provide warehouse and storage space for partners across the city, and serve as a community beacon of best-in-class food production, education, and training. TCAH engaged Totem to help facilitate its real estate search, develop a case for support to engage with potential partners, and advise on strategic outreach.
BROOKLYN TECH
TRIANGLE
DOWNTOWN
PITTSBURGH
San Salvador
STRATEGIC PLANNING TO REVITALIZE A HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
After nearly two decades of attempted revitalization
efforts in San Salvador’s historic core, the municipal government prioritized cohesive development of a Revitalization Strategic Plan that would chart a path forward for the city over the next decade. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and global economic development firm, WSP, engaged our team to lead a strategic planning effort to help facilitate the city’s growth.
DUMBO
BROOKLYN
STRAND
Fast Casual
DESIGNING A MODULAR SOLUTION FOR OUTDOOR DINING AND ACTIVATION OF PUBLIC SPACE
In response to the need to accommodate social distancing in public spaces, we worked with design studio FANTÁSTICA to create a highly-functional and design-forward solution to activate restaurant frontage, plazas, and full Open Streets.
BROOKLYN CULTURAL DISTRICT
FIFTH AVENUE