Large festivals may attract massive crowds, but they tend to be concentrated in short bursts. The big annual event might let downtown shine for one weekend, but what happens when the event is over? Smaller, recurring events address this challenge by providing reasons for visitors to return downtown week after week. Modest, consistent events foster…Continue reading

 

As urban districts embrace small-scale manufacturing, cities are adopting artisan zoning as a land use strategy and economic development tool. Small-scale manufacturers can pick up some of the slack left by the factory jobs of yesteryear, while providing little of the disruption of traditional manufacturing says the Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA). "These producers are the…Continue reading

 

With pedestrian fatalities stubbornly holding at historically high levels, safety advocates are pushing for new policies that make it less hazardous to walk or cycle in U.S. cities. Some 1,700 municipalities have adopted Complete Streets initiatives, according to Smart Growth America, a nonprofit focused on transportation policy. The Complete Streets approach urges construction of streets…Continue reading

 

Night markets are coming alive after dusk in cities across North America. These bustling open-air markets originated in Asia, where they became a fundamental part of urban nightlife. Today, they are expanding to North America particularly in cities with diverse immigrant populations. These new night markets showcase everything from global cuisine and local crafts to…Continue reading

 

Tactical urbanism was once an edgy concept. It called for urban guerillas to ignore the usual bureaucracy and take matters into their own hands with pop-up attractions and hastily installed public art. Turns out the idea was so good that major cities are making tactical urbanism part of their official policy. In Indianapolis, IN, a…Continue reading

 

Stephen Reeve runs New York Cafe in Ketchikan, Alaska — the state’s longest operating restaurant. It was built more than 120 years ago by adventurer Tony Ohashi. This legacy business received funds from the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program in 2024. Grant funds were used to restore the restaurant’s facade and document its 120 year history,…Continue reading