September 19, 2019 — In the annals of cultural assets, a quilting museum and a public mural project might sound like an unremarkable pair of attractions. But Paducah, KY, has combined those two resources with local pride and a relentless place-building campaign to turn itself into a widely recognized arts hub. "The city really sees…To read more — login/sign up

 

September 5, 2019 — Many cities set downtown parking rates and then forget about them for years. A few of the largest cities have embarked on ambitious parking plans that rely on wireless sensors and real-time data to adjust prices throughout the day. Seattle chose a middle route. The city carefully studies parking patterns and…To read more — login/sign up

 

August 22, 2019 — The expression of public art and its purpose is evolving as artists and downtown leaders expand the definition to encompass new formats. Underfoot or overhead, a treat for the eyes, ears, or all of the senses, public art is an integral part of many successful downtowns. Barbara Goldstein, a placemaking and…To read more — login/sign up

 

August 8, 2019 — Atlanta’s post-war boom has positioned it as the archetypal sprawling Sunbelt city. Now, some in the city aim to make downtown friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists by converting some one-way streets to two-way thoroughfares. The downtown business group Central Atlanta Progress has proposed turning six blocks of Baker Street into a…To read more — login/sign up

 

July 25, 2019 — Add little Whitefish, MT (est. pop. 7,070), to the growing list of municipalities worried about an influx of 5G wireless antennas marring picturesque downtowns. Mirroring a national pushback against the new generation of "small-cell" wireless antennas, officials in Whitefish aren’t keen about the prospects of new devices popping up in a…To read more — login/sign up

 

July 12, 2019 — In a bid to keep small retailers from being priced out of its resurgent downtown, St. Petersburg, FL, is experimenting with new rules regarding its merchant mix. The city’s "storefront conservation corridor" offers an unusual approach to regulating retailers in two busy business districts. Rather than limiting chains or banning them…To read more — login/sign up