Yesterday, the Metropolitan Planning Council discussed placemaking, or creating a sense of community, at a luncheon at MPC offices. Chicago Park District's Chris Gent, MPC's Peter Skosey and Partners for Livable Communities' Bob McNulty  were joined by Wicker Park/Bucktown Chamber of Commerce's Jamie Simone. Bob says outdoor space usually has a greater impact on the public's perception of a neighborhood than indoor, or even the architecture of the area; plazas and parks, more than buildings, create a sense of place. Jamie talked about consulting with neighborhood residents, through drawings and videotapes, on what they wanted from different community areas.

We caught Patrick Engineering's Ryan Westrom, MPC's Karin Sommer, and Logan Square Neighborhood Association's Lucy Gomez-Feliciano discussing possibilities for Logan Square. Lucy's organization is trying to preserve affordable housing and the Green Exchange building on Diversey, as well as encourage pedestrian activity through periodically closing streets for human-powered activities. (That sounds strenuous, but we think it just means walking and shopping.)