In Durham, NC, Downtown Durham Inc. has developed a 10-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening the downtown economy while preserving its historic character and making the district more accessible and affordable to residents and businesses. Known as Blueprint 2035, the wide-ranging plan was unveiled and adopted by the city council in 2025. Four strategies emerged…Continue reading

 

The annual garage racing championship in Arlington, VA, has grown into the National Landing BID's longest-running signature event. Instead of closing downtown streets for a traditional cycling competition, organizers create a course spanning two levels of a parking garage. The ramps, tight corners, and changes in elevation become obstacles that test riders’ technical skills. Equally…Continue reading

 

Heart of Ellsworth, in Ellsworth, ME, has launched an initiative to increase downtown housing by activating underutilized spaces. The project is a partnership between Heart of Ellsworth, the City of Ellsworth, and the Ellsworth Public Library. The Mid-Coast Board of Realtors is also contributing expertise and a $5,000 grant to hire a consultant to assess…Continue reading

 

For the past two summers, Vancouver, BC, Canada, has piloted a pedestrian zone in the city’s Gastown district. The zone operated on Sundays from June through August. The pilot tested changes to traffic circulation, cycling infrastructure, public seating, patio spaces, shared market stalls, and programming such as a public disco, flower market, and art battle.…Continue reading

 

Lewiston, ME, kicked off a successful busking festival in 2025. And in Lawrence, KS, and Burlington, VT, busker fests have been going strong for two decades. Buskers are street performers who toil for tips. Bringing them together in one downtown at one time can provide a low-budget way to fill an event schedule and downtown…Continue reading

 

In Chattanooga, TN, a program to encourage merchants to update downtown storefronts has seen strong early results. The nonprofit River City Company’s Scenic Storefronts program launched in November 2025 with $500,000 in funding from the Chattanooga City Council. To date, the program has spurred millions in new investment and more than 75 jobs, says Sarah…Continue reading