Jonathan is a placemaker and New Urbanist in every sense of the word with a voracious appetite for studying and learning about new methods of community and economic development from around the world. Since 2016 he’s served as Vice President at the Detroit based placemaking startup, Patronicity supporting over 100 community driven placemaking projects across the country. Through his work at Patronicity, Jonathan has assisted community groups in realizing some incredible public space improvement projects that have won regional and international awards. His focus remains on building, vibrant communities that foster connectivity and creativity and support a thriving, healthy downtown, small business ecosystem and community.
Are you a like minded new urbanist? Want to learn more about Jonathan's experience and expertise? Let's collaborate to build healthy, vibrant, sustainable cities and towns around the globe for live, work and play!
Jonathan@buildingbos.com
Jonathan's Work
Vice President at Patronicity
Patronicity is a placemaking consultancy and crowdfunding platform that works with cities, towns, community groups, non-profit and for profit entities to bring placemaking projects to life. Based in Detroit, we have operations across the United States and Canada. 
Principal & Creative Director at bench Consulting
A Placemaking Advisory and Consulting firm helping public and private sector clients reimagine their public spaces by directly engaging their community and stakeholders in the process of revitalizing their main street, downtown or real estate. |
Board Member, Abundant Housing Massachusetts
We stand up for abundant housing for all in communities across Massachusetts. We drive policy at the state and local level by identifying pro-housing changemakers, building the power of local organizers, and connecting a statewide network. 
CoFounder, Retail Reimagined MA
With storefront vacancies increasing in both number and duration, creative collaborations and solutions are necessary to bring these vital assets back into continuous productivity for property owners, small businesses, creatives and the local economies in which they reside. |
Recent Talks |
In The News |
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Rethinking Spaces on Our Main Streets and In Our Downtowns. Design Week. 4/27/22
MBTA Communities Webinar Series. Mass Housing Partnership, 9/22/22 Episode 38 Jonathan Berk: Transforming Cities Podcast. 8/17/20 Creative Placemaking In Your Community: Mass Municipal Association. 2/3/22 15 Minute Neighborhoods. The Boston Foundation. 9/29/21 Boston North End's Outdoor Dining Program is Sumptuous. Streetfilms. Summer 2021 Embracing Winter With Creative Ways to Stay Outdoors. Barr Foundation. Winter 2021 |
Streets That Put People First, Not Cars. Boston Globe. 3/7/21
What Should Be Next For The Hynes Convention Center. Boston Magazine. 4/19/22 WIth Fewer Cars On The Road, Some Cities Make More Space For Walking. Marketplace. 4/13/20 Boston Could Save Winter By Finally Doing Something Fun In It's Streets. Boston Magazine. 10/29/20 Cold Weather Cities Embrace Winter Placemaking to Coax People Outdoors. Axios. 1/8/21 |
Blog
