So, in the past three years, NAR has awarded over 1/2 million dollars to our local REALTOR® Associations to create placemaking projects in their community and spread the love to their cities. I would love to see our Associations take part in this campaign to show everyone how they, and their REALTOR® members, transformed a lot or other type of vacant space into a vibrant community gathering place.
This is a blog post written by Community Progress on January 24, 2017.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Why not celebrate it by sending Valentine love to your favorite revitalization projects and community champions?
#LoveThatLot is back in its third annual campaign and we’re excited for you to share your love for revitalized spaces! From Newark to Milwaukee, Baltimore to Philadelphia, last year’s #LoveThatLot was HUGELY successful. You shared photos of pocket parks, farmers markets, urban gardens, public art, and most importantly, the people who helped to transform these spaces. Even Mayor Jake Day, City Council members, and others from Salisbury, Maryland, ”heart-bombed” several lots throughout the city!
Let’s make it happen again this year by showing your love and appreciation to the revitalized lots in your community. There are three ways you can get involved in this year’s #LoveThatLot campaign:
1) Share photos of revitalized lots in your community
Take to Twitter and Facebook with snapshots of your favorite revitalization projects using #LoveThatLot. These could be rain gardens or art installations or rehabbed houses or anything else that’s restored vitality to a neglected property.
Last year you shared 100+ photos on Facebook and Twitter. This year, let’s make #LoveThatLot even bigger! A selection of photos will be shared with a national audience on our blog.
2) Send a Valentine, online or in-person
E-Valentine: Download the e-Valentine and send it on social media or via email to the people behind the revitalization project that’s captured your heart. When you share it on social media, make sure you use #LoveThatLot for a chance to be featured on our blog!
Paper Valentine: Nothing beats a paper Valentine with a hand-written message. Download the #LoveThatLot Valentinepdf, print it off on regular 8.5”x11” paper, and fold it in four. Send it off to a revitalization rock star so they know their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. If you’ve received a Valentine, post a photo of it—and your revitalization project—on social media with #LoveThatLot!
3) Go really public with your #LoveThatLot PDA – and bring well-deserved attention to a revitalized lot
Use #LoveThatLot to shine a big spotlight on exceptional revitalization efforts in your community with an in-person celebration, including an invitation to local media. You can find all the guidance you need to pull off a successful in-person Valentine’s event, including a sample media alert, in our #LoveThatLot celebration kit.pdf
For example, if you work at a land bank, stage a small Valentine’s Day celebration recognizing a new property owner on a former land bank property who has gone above and beyond to restore a home. Give the owner an opportunity to show off their hard work with a tour, and surprise them with Valentines and chocolates and balloons. You could even decorate the site in a Valentine’s theme, in the style of the “heart-bombing” popularized by Buffalo’s Young Preservationists.
Have questions? We’re here to help! Feel free to contact us at ccarter@communityprogress.net with any questions.