Catalyst hubs are community-serving buildings that serve as catalysts for a regenerative culture and economy in the neighborhood - designed, governed and owned by local communities. Regenerative is defined as the use of resources in a way that renews nature and the human spirit. The intention is to establish a living example with one building that can then seed other buildings as catalyst hubs, then entire blocks, and eventually a neighborhood, while networked with other initiatives in other neighborhoods around the world.
Regenerative development is defined as the use of resources in a way that renews nature and the human spirit. Regenerative community development applies to at least 11 of the 17 SDGs (UN Sustainable Development Goals). However, regenerative development goes beyond ‘sustainable’. It doesn’t just maintain the status quo of community life, it restores and renews it. It starts when those affected have the opportunity to holistically participate in cooperative governance and ownership.
‘Impact’ is defined as those affected in a community having the chance to design outcomes, govern processes, and share in ownership of the change in their neighborhood.
Commongrounds - A new 4-story, 50,000 s.f. $16 million development in Traverse City, Michigan cooperatively owned by nearly 600 members. It will feature a food incubator, coffeeshop, distillery, childcare center, cowering space for impact organizations and businesses, performing arts and events space, artist-in-residence space, and 24 workforce rental units. Construction began in Fall 2020, with tenants scheduled to move in by 2022.