The Other Side Village is not meant to be an island away from the rest of Salt Lake City. Instead of isolating residents from their neighbors, our goal is to encourage the wider community to come and go inside the Village every day. The Village businesses, including shared shopping and services, an amphitheater, eateries, and more, will draw in neighbors from the entire Salt Lake City area and beyond.
By placing emphasis on community, The Other Side Village will be a vibrant, thriving gathering place for residents and non-residents alike.
Here are some of the ideas we are working on to create a community where people want to be.
Food-based Businesses
“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” –James Beard
Bringing food-based businesses to the Village is a no-brainer. Food brings people together and, as the quote above says, is a common ground and universal experience for all of us. Walking down the aisles of a grocery store, enjoying a book at a cafe, sitting with friends at a restaurant may be typical, everyday experiences, but these simple acts bring joy and meaning to life.
Village residents, who have experienced homelessness chronically for years of their lives, can find belonging and welcome at the restaurants and markets among the Village businesses. Additionally, the area where the Village will be located, on Indiana Avenue in Salt Lake City, is currently a food desert, making grocery stores and restaurants a huge value to the surrounding community and drawing neighbors to visit the Village regularly.
Imagine some scenarios where food-based businesses will positively impact the community at large:
- Grocery store–The convenience of a store full of food, ready to take home for an easy lunch or a special occasion meal.
- Farmer’s market–Freshly grown produce, local jam makers and coffee brewers, music, and a lively atmosphere full of people.
- Community garden–The chance to feel the dirt in your hands and reap the rewards of working hard to enjoy fruits and vegetables that you grew.
- Cafe or coffee shop–Whether you take a cup on your way out the door or enjoy an hour watching people come and go, nothing beats the atmosphere of a cafe, where the smell of brewing coffee and the sound of soft jazz fill the room.
- Bakery–Warm bread, buttery croissants, or decadent brownies elevate a regular day with a small touch of simple luxury.
It’s no wonder that many people asked for businesses with a focus on food in our community polls. As one of the most basic needs of life, food has a special place in our families and neighborhoods, and the businesses in the Village will reflect that.
Gathering Areas
Creating safe gathering areas in the Village is key to making this community a welcoming place for residents, who have often been shooed away from public spaces while dealing with chronic homelessness. These public gathering areas in the community will encourage Village residents and folks living in the surrounding neighborhoods to interact with each other, fully integrating the Village and the broader community.
Some of the large, public spaces planned for the Village will need to be reserved, while others will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. In keeping with our goal of a vibrant, thriving community that facilitates connection with others, some of the gathering spaces will hold events or festivals to further invite neighbors inside.
Here are a few ideas for how these gathering areas may be used to enrich the community:
- Event venue: Picture a gorgeous spot for weddings, reunions, corporate events, and more.
- Community center: Parks, shopping, restaurants, and social services all clustered together will make this a social hub for Indiana Avenue and beyond.
- Outdoor amphitheater: Enjoy stimulating culture with lively concerts and intimate performances alike, all while breathing fresh air.
Social Enterprises
Other community resources are provided through social enterprises, which provide residents with more than simply employment opportunities, though they do that too. Social enterprises help the Village be self-sufficient, give residents the flexibility to work as much as they are willing and able to, and give them the opportunity to participate in meaningful employment.
The Village will have a mix of retail businesses and social enterprises designed to help us become financially self-sufficient over time. Our goal is to raise funds for capital costs and pay for ongoing operational costs with the funds from our social enterprises.
Our sister program at The Other Side Academy has created successful enterprises such as The Other Side Thrift Store and The Other Side Movers. These programs are designed to teach marketing, sales, and other business skills as well as social skills like working as part of a team. Our goal for the Village is to create additional enterprises that provide residents meaningful work that is tailored to their abilities and build a positive relationship between the Village and the surrounding community.
The Village Businesses: An Essential Piece of the Community
The myriad businesses in The Other Side Village will be essential to making the Village a safe, welcoming place for both residents and the surrounding neighbors. The Village, its residents, and the businesses all add value to the area.
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