Townscape Institute

CONTACT:

8 Lowell St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-491-8952
www.townscape.org

Lee Fleming, President

DESCRIPTION:

Philanthropy opens strategic possibilities for people with beneficial ideas and values. Ronald Fleming, armed with a graduate degree in urban design, a strategic mind, and a modest family foundation, has pursued a philanthropic hobby parallel to his professional career. In 1979 he founded the Townscape Institute (TI) — a charitable corporation to protect historic and traditional community spaces from uglification (our word, not his) by modern commercialism — e.g., brand-name buildings of fast food outlets and gas stations, that are actually loud advertising signs.

TI has provided consulting, advocacy, education, and design services, to help over 100 communities in 10 nations conserve and enhance their architectural heritage. TI's publications have built credibility and exerted considerable influence. TI recently collaborated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Scenic America, to tackle uglification from the supply side — working to secure commitments from major corporations to adopt design policies that harmonize, rather than conflict, with historic and scenic sites. By this strategy, a few senior-management decisions could cover large numbers of community projects.

So what's the problem? Growing pains — TI is on a trajectory suitable to its ambitious mission, but it has outgrown its narrow resource-base. Mr. Fleming now seeks a few kindred spirits to join him in philanthropically investing in the Townscape Institute. Massachusetts would be a benefit significantly.

(2001: CULTURE: Education: Informal: Historic Preservation)