Case Study: The Corner Spot

The Corner Spot was quickly embraced by the community of Ashland as a new hub of activity.

After the recent closure of a local diner, the community of Ashland had been looking for a place downtown to cultivate community connections and serve as the “hub” of the Main Street. They were looking for something that would help draw people into the downtown area to patronize small businesses, stay, enjoy time with neighbors, and build a sense of community.

The Corner Spot was planned by a group of engaged residents, business owners, and town staff to be an enjoyable gathering place for folks from across Metrowest. The space was designed with tables, chairs, bench swings, and landscaping to serve as a “town square,” drawing visitors into the downtown and giving them a space to gather for local events. In addition, the small shed converted into a retail space serves as a low-cost, affordable way of providing commercial activation to the space while allowing area businesses to test the Ashland market to see if they might be able to open a full-time establishment.

“It is wonderful to see The Corner Spot come alive due to the support and encouragement from the residents in town, this project has already strengthened our community in ways I never imagined.” - Beth Reynolds, Director of Economic Development and Community Outreach

The Corner Spot was quickly embraced by the community of Ashland as a new hub of activity. Local breweries and small businesses filled the retail shed. Area yoga studios offered community classes, musicians hosted concerts, and area moms used the space for kids' classes during the day. The space is also used as a local work spot, taking advantage of a nice active spot to sit. Local realtors report increased interest in living in Ashland from folks who see the community energy in the Corner Spot and are interested in calling the town home. The space has also provided a great point for new businesses opening in town to connect with the community.

Project Details

Project: The Corner Spot
Project Type: Public Plazas and Markets, Public Art, Events, Alleys and Streetscapes, Small Business
Project Location: Ashland, Massachusetts
Crowdfunding Raise: $37,255
Crowdgranting Match: $25,000
Patrons: 292
In-Kind Amount: $25,000
Total Project Estimate: $87,255

About Commonwealth Places

Commonwealth Places, a collaborative initiative from MassDevelopment and Patronicity, was a crowdgranting challenge program to activate new or distressed public places and community spaces. The program was open to municipalities and nonprofits to improve low- and moderate-income communities in Massachusetts.

August 01, 2022

Authors

Jonathan Berk, Former Vice President he/him
Boston, MA
With over five years experience at Patronicity, Jonathan Berk not only brings his skills as a trained attorney, but continues to serve as a leader in the forefront of Patronicity’s innovation. Jonathan is a placemaker and New Urbanist in every sense of the word with a voracious appetite for studying and learning about new methods of community and economic development from around the world. Jonathan spearheads our consulting efforts under bench Consulting and is a consistent advocate for improved transportation, housing, and open street improvements. Be sure to follow him on Twitter for his thought leadership. As Vice President, Jonathan helps to identify opportunities to expand our reach and keep Patronicity focused on emerging trends. His focus remains on building vibrant communities that foster connectivity and creativity and support a thriving, healthy downtown, small business ecosystem and community.
Jonathan holds a JD from New England Law | Boston and a BA in Communications from Quinnipiac University and currently sits on the local advisory board of Leading Cities, a global leader in Smart City solutions and Abundant Housing Massachusetts, advocating for access to more housing for all across the region.
Email Jonathan