THE PROBLEM PRESENT
[W]e have managed to ruin our greatest cities, throw away our small towns, and impose over the countryside a joyless junk habitat which we can no longer afford to support.
James Howard Kunstler

THE POSSIBLE FUTURE
To foster a sense of place, communities must nurture built environments and settlement patterns that are uplifting, inspirational, and memorable, and that engender a special feeling of attachment and belonging.
Timothy Beatley & Kristy Manning

Community Heritage Group’s mission is to help municipalities, organizations, and businesses identify, preserve, and build upon their region’s cultural heritage for economic and quality-of-life benefits. Central to this work is a shared public commitment to "place-making."

News! Visit our sister site to learn about the 2008 Civic Tourism conference to be held in Rhode Island. Also, find out about the new Civic Tourism book.

Community Heritage Group Programs:
What We Stand For
CHG supports everyone’s right to a just economy, healthy environment (both natural and built), and vibrant quality of life.

To help imagine and design  “Communities of Character,” CHG emphasizes:
• sense of place
• livability
• sustainability
• heritage tourism
• public voice

Community Heritage Group Services:
What We Do
Like any product, towns must “differentiate” in order to attract and continue to satisfy customers — residents, tourists, and employers.

To help communities      create a competitive vision,
CHG offers:
• lectures
• workshops
• surveys and assessments
• long-term consultancies
• advocacy and lobbying
• grant writing … and more

Community Heritage Group Principles:
How We Differ
Other approaches often see “place-making” as an architectural matter alone — or economic development trumps everything.

To help places have a different kind of conversation about "community," CHG focuses on:
• heritage
• connectivity
• equity
• diversity
• appropriateness