Community-Driven Placemaking At Tierra Central
Tierra Central is one of the most ambitious placemaking projects our Economic Development team has ever attempted.
Formerly an abandoned patch of scrub and broken glass, this lot-turned-event-space will eventually become more affordable housing. Until then, it’s a place for community gatherings and a booster for small businesses!
After a lot of deliberation and community engagement, we settled on the name ‘Tierra Central’ because of this idea of ‘middle ground’ or an in-between space, where anyone from the community could feel welcomed and celebrated.
Tierra Central’s Impact In 2022:
Hosted a dozen events, see photos at the bottom of this page
50+ businesses gained income/promotion/investment through the space
Major wins: we hosted the first Cambodian New Year event in over 5 years, 10+ business were launched at a Tierra Central event, provided a consistent haven for food trucks to do business
The evolution of Tierra Central has been fun to watch as it moved from a dangerous, derelict patch of scrub to a functioning event space with thriving businesses. In between all that, fueling this change, has been our Economic Development team and our amazing volunteers rolling up their sleeves and just getting it done. Don’t know how to build a picnic table? Never mixed cement before? YouTube it, we’re on a deadline!
The setup crews have built tables, poured concrete, strung lights, built lighting fixtures, and much more. Thanks to these staff and volunteers who chose to jump in and learn new skills, Tierra Central is looking great!
See more about Tierra Central (and past and upcoming events) by clicking below.
