"Placemaking"
http://www.pps.org/articles/what_is_placemaking/
"Placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. Put simply, it involves looking at, listening to, and asking questions of the people who live, work and play in a particular space, to discover their needs and aspirations. This information is then used to create a common vision for that place. The vision can evolve quickly into an implementation strategy, beginning with small-scale, do-able improvements that can immediately bring benefits to public spaces and the people who use them...
and the 11 principles...
http://www.pps.org/articles/11steps/
"Effective public spaces are extremely difficult to accomplish, because their complexity is rarely understood. As William (Holly) Whyte said, Its hard to design a space that will not attract people. What is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished. PPS has identified 11 key elements in transforming public spaces into vibrant community places, whether theyre parks, plazas, public squares, streets, sidewalks or the myriad other outdoor and indoor spaces that have public uses in common. These elements are..."