Creating a Safe, Vibrant, and Valuable Longfellow

A Community-Led Effort to Strengthen Downtown Longfellow

Downtown Longfellow is home to thriving small businesses, community organizations, cultural institutions, and gathering spaces that make our neighborhood unique. From Moon Palace Books and Arbeiter Brewing to the Coliseum and East Lake Library, the district continues to be an important destination for residents and visitors alike.

At the same time, the area faces ongoing challenges including litter, vacant storefronts, public safety concerns, and other issues that impact how people experience the district. These challenges affect residents, visitors, and businesses alike.

The Longfellow Business Association is exploring a new approach designed to address these issues while building a stronger, more welcoming downtown for everyone.

Project Leadership

Both organizations bring experience in community development, public space activation, and neighborhood-based problem solving.

  • Max Musicant is a national leader in developing and activating public and shared spaces. As founder and President of the Musicant Group, he partners with public and private organizations to integrate user engagement, design, operations, events, communications, and organizational strategy to create places where people want to be. He believes and has demonstrated that any space can and should be a great place.

Max Musicant

Justin Ley

Reema Health CEO 
The Musicant Group

  • Justin is the CEO of Reema Health, a venture-backed startup helping Medicaid members navigate the social barriers that derail health like housing, food, employment, and transportation. Reema employs 200 people nationwide, including 50 based in the Coliseum, right here in Downtown Longfellow. Justin has spent his career at the intersection of healthcare and technology, building startups focused on the people the system most often overlooks.

The Challenge

Many public safety and quality-of-life issues occur in the spaces between businesses, organizations, and public facilities.

Property owners maintain their buildings. Public agencies respond to calls for service. But the public spaces in between often lack consistent daily care and stewardship.

Without ongoing attention, issues such as litter, encampments, open drug use, and other disruptive behaviors can persist and shape how people perceive the neighborhood.

When people feel uncomfortable in a district, they spend less time there, businesses see fewer customers, and negative perceptions become difficult to overcome.

The Proposed Solution

The Clean and Safe ambassadors would:

  • Pick up litter and help maintain public spaces

  • Build relationships with residents, visitors, and business owners

  • Address issues through conversation and de-escalation

  • Connect with mental health, outreach, or public safety resources when needed

  • Support community events and public space activations

  • Help create a welcoming environment throughout the district

The goal is creating a district where people feel comfortable spending time, supporting local businesses, and participating in community life.

Full Presentation