YIMBY (Yes, In My Back Yard)

One of the issues for an association that defines itself by its opposition to development is that the focus will tend to be negative. It invites the charge of NIMBYism (Not in My Back Yard). That isn't always necessarily a bad thing, since fighting environmental damage or developments perceived to be detrimental to a community are ways of keeping our "back yards" in good shape, but the approach doesn't usually provide any vision for the future other than the status quo.

I found this story fascinating in that context. A neighbourhood association opposed the design for a bank branch that wouldn't have fit into the community, but they recognized that the neighbourhood really could use a bank. So instead of the usual NIMBY opposition, they took a YIMBY (Yes, In My Back Yard) approach and offered to work with the developers to come up with a better design that made more sense than a giant parking lot on a busy corner.

And it worked! They got a bank branch without sacrificing the spirit of their street. I think we should take this lesson to heart, focusing on the proactive approach.