"The Meanwhile Block" Trademarked | Martin Tuchman School of Management

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“The Meanwhile Block” Trademarked

From Colorado Springs, CPC Graduate Lauren Ripko (Spring 2022) writes: I wanted to send an update on my class “practicum” that has taught me more than I ever thought possible.

This summer I've learned about pavement grades and lighting lumens, utilities and bollards, LED streetlights vs market lights, storm water....the list is long as I became a General Contractor by proxy for the Meanwhile Block. The project required months of infrastructure updates to bring it to a place that is safe and welcoming before beginning to infuse the space with vibrant art and installations. Fences came down, parking lots were cleared, lights have been installed. I've also created a brand, a website, and instagram account and have 13 events on the Block in October. It's really real, more than a year later.

After quite a few conversations with the CEO, the Meanwhile Block concept and brand will become a tool for the company to use in pre-development to bring culture to a vacant space to create commerce to follow. My hope is for it to someday launch outside of Colorado and for it to be a concept that I'm able to travel and implement in other markets.

A large stage is on the way for concerts next summer, infrastructure is being designed for a food truck lot that will host local trucks to build their businesses and following and a farmers market has been using the space weekly since June for downtown residents. We expanded the market to allow for SNAP and WIC purchases with grants and that has been incredibly fulfilling. Our local utilities company donated 10 telephone poles that will be installed to hang market lights and shade clothes from for future events and the City repaved the alley and installed bollards to create a completely pedestrian safe block. We hosted the first ever Colorado Springs Fashion Week in one of the vacant buildings which was an adventure with the City Planning and Fire Departments. Next January one of the large buildings will be host to a homeless support event with gloves and blankets, the traveling TIDE laundry truck, In & Out Burger Food Truck and several organizations from the area promoting and providing wrap around services to the houseless population that is so concentrated around this location.

Lots more to come, but I wanted to send a BIG thank you. Who knew a covid pivot in my career would be so incredibly fulfilling and would stretch my abilities in the best of ways!