The Third Place:
Planning for a Sense of Community
Third place is a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg and refers
What you will learn: to places where people spend time between home (‘first’ place) and
work (‘second’ place). They are settings where we exchange ideas,
What is the “Third Place” have a good time, and build relationships.
Think of third places you enjoy. It could be different for different
Why are Third Places groups: Starbucks, McDonalds, the playground, the gym, a library
important book group, church, the neighborhood bar. Cheers, where everybody
knows your name, is the quintessential third place. In his book,
How planners can revive Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam describes the loss of community and
and support Third Places decline of traditional third places such as churches, bowling leagues,
service clubs like Kiwanis and VFW’s; places that traditionally
provided a setting to gather, share, and relax. Development patterns
with single use zoning districts have exacerbated this decline.
Recently, social media has become a virtual third place. From
Facebook and Instagram to group texts, the traditional third place
is often now virtual. But experts note the most effective places for
building real community are physical places where people can easily,
routinely, and informally connect with each other: churches, parks,
recreation centers, hairdressers, gyms, coffee shops bakeries, and
even fast-food restaurants.
Third places have a number of important community-building
Published by the attributes. Depending on their location, social classes and
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF PLANNING backgrounds can be “leveled-out” with people feeling they are
Summer 2020 treated as social equals.
1919 West Stadium Boulevard, Suite 4
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103
734.913.2000 | [Link] Third Place Attributes
info@[Link] • The place must be free or quite inexpensive to enter.
Photo Credit: the kirbster • The place must be highly accessible to neighborhoods so that
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State laws that may also apply:
Public Act 120 of 1961: Principal Shopping Districts and Business Improvement Districts. Authorizes the
development or redevelopment of principal shopping districts and business improvement districts; permits the
creation of certain boards; provides for the operation of principal shopping districts and business improvement
districts; provides for the creation, operation, and dissolution of business improvement zones; and authorizes the
collection of revenue and the bonding of certain local governmental units for the development or redevelopment
projects.
Public Act 57 of 2018: Recodified Tax Increment Financing Act. Provides for the establishment of certain
tax increment finance authorities such as downtown development, corridor improvement, water resource
improvement, and neighborhood improvement.
Public Act 33 of 2008: Michigan Planning Enabling Act. Provides for county, township, city, and village
planning including the creation, organization, powers, and duties of local planning commissions and the
preparation and adoption of master plans.
people find it easy to make the place a regular part
of their routine. A critical mass of people should Resources:
be able to comfortably walk to the place from their
home. Congress for New Urbanism
• A number of people regularly go to this place on a
daily basis. Project for Public Spaces
• People who go there should be able to expect to find
both old and new friends each time they visit. “Third Places as Community Builders.” by Stuart
Butler and Cameron Diaz. Brookings Institution.
Reviving Third Places
Most third places have disappeared in recent decades, as “What Happens When our Third Places Go Away”
suburban development practically excludes mixed uses. by Allie Conti. Grub Street.
Communities can take steps to create more hospitable
conditions for third places to develop and thrive. “What is the Third Place and Why Do You Need
One.” by Johnny Dzubak. The Art of the Charm.
• Make sure zoning accommodates mixed-use
functions in residential areas. Allowing a corner “Why You Need a Third Place and How to Find
store, places of worship, or a small restaurant or One.” The Jordan Harbinger Show.
bar-- hang-out places--in residential neighborhoods
encourages community building.
• Consider the location of potential third places. Bus
routes and convenient stopping points can be critical
to the survivability of a third-place.
• Free Wi-Fi can turn many places into meeting points
and draw people together from a range of ages.
This tear sheet was developed by the Michigan Associaion of Planning (MAP) for the Michigan
Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The Michigan Association of Planning is a
501 c 3 organization, dedicated to promoting sound community planning that benefits the
residents of Michigan. MAP was established in 1945 to achieve a desired quality of life through
comprehensive community planning that includes opportunities for a variety of lifestyles and
housing, employment, commercial activities, and cultural and recreational amenities.
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