Purpose and Progress: Uniting Communities through Place and Planning

Hello and welcome to this month’s Grow Places Insights. At Grow Places, we believe in more than just building; we believe in creating meaningful places that foster growth, connection, and belonging. This edition reflects on two separate conversations from our podcast series, featuring Joy Nazzari of DNCO and David Morris of DP9. Each shares their unique perspective on how place purpose and consensus-building are shaping the future of our cities and communities.

The Beginning: A Personal Journey of Belonging

Our first podcast with Joy Nazzari dives deep into the concept of place purpose. When Joy talks about creating places that make people feel they belong, she’s speaking from personal experience. Growing up across cultures, Joy always felt like an outsider—never quite fitting in. Yet, instead of letting that feeling define her, she’s used it to fuel her passion for placemaking.

"I’m an expert at not belonging," Joy shares. That feeling of not belonging drives her work at DNCO, where she’s focused on crafting places that welcome and include everyone. For Joy, a place is more than its buildings; it’s about identity, connection, and fostering a sense of belonging.

This perspective challenges the industry’s typical focus on function and appearance. Joy asks developers to think bigger: “What’s the story of this place? How do we make it special, somewhere people fall in love with?” By creating spaces that are emotionally connected to their communities, Joy believes we can create places that matter—places people want to be, not just visit.

The Conflict: A Balancing Act of People and Process

In a separate conversation, David Morris shared his experience navigating the complex world of urban planning. As a Board Director at DP9, David deals with the tensions between commercial objectives and public interests on a daily basis.

For David, the planning process is as much about conflict resolution as it is about development. His work centres on building consensus—finding common ground between developers, local authorities, and communities. Success in planning, David says, comes from relationships, trust, and open communication.

"We’re not magicians. It’s about relationships," David says. His approach to planning focuses on listening and understanding. He believes that when developers engage with communities early, they create better projects that benefit both the bottom line and the people they serve. Trust is essential; it’s the thread that keeps projects moving forward and allows for more collaborative and impactful outcomes.

The Turning Point: Realising the True Value of Development

Both Joy and David agree that development can no longer be driven solely by profit. There’s a shift happening across the industry, and they’re both part of it.

David acknowledges that while financial returns are still crucial, developers today recognise the importance of creating social value and community impact. Lasting value, he says, is about designing places that enrich lives, enhance public spaces, and foster inclusivity.

Joy similarly advocates for placing human needs at the centre of development. For her, placemaking isn’t just about aesthetics or functionality—it’s about how a place feels and how deeply it connects with its people. By infusing places with a sense of identity and purpose, Joy believes we can build spaces that resonate with communities for generations to come.

The Resolution: A Shared Path Forward

At Grow Places, we believe that the places we create should do more than meet immediate needs—they should inspire connection and growth for future generations. Joy and David’s approaches align perfectly with this vision: purposeful places that not only stand the test of time but also create a lasting positive impact.

For Joy, the journey begins with belonging. For David, it’s about consensus. For us, it’s about creating spaces where people feel at home and communities can thrive. As we look ahead, let’s continue to ask ourselves how we can make the spaces we develop truly meaningful.

Thank you for being part of the Grow Places community. We look forward to continuing these conversations and building places that matter—together.

For more insights, visit the Grow Places Podcast and explore our vision at www.growplaces.com.