The Starter Block Initiative is a locally driven, reusable toolkit designed to move from one underused block to the next — building momentum, not permanence. It uses simple, flexible components to temporarily activate vacant or overlooked lots, helping them feel alive, welcoming, and ready for new futures. By setting up, testing ideas, and then packing up again, the Starter Block helps Fairbanks build back up, priming key sites for possibility without locking any one block into a long-term commitment.

 

This community-powered effort brings together neighbors, small businesses, makers, students, designers, lenders, builders, and public partners to experiment with small-scale improvements that strengthen the public realm and spark new economic and social activity. Instead of waiting for a single silver-bullet project, the Starter Block focuses on incremental, achievable steps that make each block more inviting, active, and productive in every season.

 

The goal is to lower barriers, unlock underused land, and support people who want to invest in Fairbanks at a human scale. Every small success becomes a building block for recovery and renewal, showcasing what’s possible when we work together — creating places where public life, local business, and civic pride thrive side by side.

 

At its heart, the Starter Block is about empowerment: giving our community the tools, knowledge, and confidence to shape downtown’s future one practical step at a time, helping Fairbanks grow stronger with every move.

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The first effort is underscored by one of the things Fairbanks does best

Cold :)