Ben Shardlow: The Cultural Potential of Vacant Storefronts
Ben Shardlow believes vacant store fronts are opportunities. He co-founded ‘The Starling Project, matching building owners of vacant spaces with people who are looking for ‘nesting spaces’ or short-term opportunities to try out new businesses, galleries, or other types of workspace and event space.
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ABOUT Ben Shardlow
“Ben Shardlow graduated with a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree focused on Land Use & Urban Design. He is a co-founder of the Starling Project, an interdisciplinary initiative conceived of and directed by University of Minnesota students to foster community and economic development along University Avenue in Saint Paul.
With professional experience in transit-oriented development, applied research, and social enterprise, Ben is interested in tactical urbanism and new platforms of civic engagement.
He maintains, “the built environment frames the communities in which we live, and we are surrounded by opportunities to improve it.” He is interested in working with people who want to do that. He lives in the Desnoyer Park neighbourhood of Saint Paul with his wife Kristin, an interactive designer, and their Blue Tick Coonhound, Harper.”
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