In this month's column, I would like to offer personal reflections about the path to positive change in a community like Haverhill. I'll call it "creative localism" — a conscious focus on the particular, the positive and the possible in the life of our city, not as a form of grim competition with other communities, but as a way to live a vibrant and appealing life together, even in changing and challenging circumstances.
Creative localism is like paddling through the rapids, discovering the hidden channel that weaves its way between deadly shoals on either side. The danger to be avoided in one direction is an uncritical acceptance of the latest trends in "development" — buying the program of the moment as if it were the only alternative.
Haverhill understands very well the destruction that lies on that side of the stream. In the "urban renewal" push of the 1970s, there was plenty of money available to demolish "blighted" areas, but none to renovate existing structures. As a result, the whole eastern arm of our downtown streetscape was amputated—a wound that still throbs in the psyche of many residents.
Most cities bought the same "redevelopment" package, with similar results. Boston's Scollay Square neighborhood was wiped out to make way for massive government buildings, and the whole city was cut off from its waterfront by the Central Artery.
But some communities, like Newburyport, resisted the seductive demolition dollars and pursued a style of development more congruent with their history and their distinctive assets. It takes time, energy, robust citizen participation and gutsy leadership to face off a developer (public or private) with a fist full of money — to insist that projects address local needs and protect local assets. The awkward placement of the most recent riverfront residential complex on Washington Street shows that the danger of capitulation is always with us.
Gripped by a fear of unwise initiatives, however, communities can also run themselves aground on the other shore by adopting a narrow and defensive posture, refusing to learn what is happening elsewhere and assuming in advance that nothing will ever work here.
During group and individual interviews that Team Haverhill conducted last summer in connection with the Soles of Haverhill public art project, newer residents expressed surprise that so many longer-term Hillies are quick to "bad-mouth" their own city.
At the same time, many people also noted that our community's spirit and self-confidence seem to be improving over time. Tangible gains, like the conversion of downtown factories into residences and the purchase of the Bradford rail trail for recreational use, demonstrate that government-supported development initiatives can sometimes be tapped appropriately for our city's long-term benefit.
Even more powerful sources of confidence and self-esteem, however, are local initiatives that muster local resources for the common good.
On Saturday, the Haverhill Farmers Market launched its second season in its new and expanded format. Among the 14 vendors this year are more local farms, additional baked goods, and a variety of hand made gifts and food products. Weekly musical presentation at the market are listed on the schedule at haverhillfarmersmarket.org. Located on Bailey Boulevard at North Main Street, the Haverhill Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
One of the new vendors is Fletcher Community Farm, practicing an innovative approach called Community Supported Agriculture. While Fletcher does sell produce at various area farmers markets, its primary constituency is a group of "shareholders" — households that buy an annual stake in the farm's output. This yearly advance payment provides up-front capital for the farmers to work with in producing crops. Shareholders then visit the East Broadway farm once a week to fill their special market bag with freshly harvested items.
This form of agriculture makes farmers less dependent on loans, supports sustainable production methods, and builds local relationships. Shareholders also have the option of volunteering a few hours during the season to bring down the price of their produce.
These local initiatives illustrate grassroots capacity for community and economic development. They build our local "muscle" for making good decisions and implementing projects effectively.
In this kind of "bottom-up" development, we draw primarily upon our own visions, energy, hope, relational networks and good judgment — our key local assets.
At the same time, we are willing to learn from anybody, anywhere, who has pursued a dream like ours and learned something about how to do it. That's creative localism.
Alice Mann is chairwoman of Team Haverhill. More information about Team Haverhill can be found at teamhaverhill.org.
