Downtown Idea Exchange – Web Extras
April 1, 2021
Asphalt art projects combine pedestrian safety, urban beautification — The Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative gives up to $25,000 per locale for visual art interventions on roadways, pedestrian spaces, and public infrastructure. See the City of Monticello Business District Building Improvement Grant Program application and guidelines.
Watch videos about public art in Kansas City, MO, and Saginaw, MI, below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa8xNx7Cjwk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBdRy0x7Gqg
...System of sensors and signs helps improve parking — When workers return downtown in a number of cities, they will be greeted by a range of new parking technologies. Watch a video about the parking garage management system below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfXlVldgjaU ...
Old style mall becomes modern food hall — The newest addition to downtown Milwaukee’s vibrant restaurant scene is the 3rd Street Market Hall, with a dozen restaurants and food businesses. Read the report, “Food Halls 3.0.” ...
The Colorado Springs Gateways Initiative was a clear win for the city’s downtown. The new landmark signs at the entrance to downtown are eye-catching, and the project was honored with an award from the International Downtown Association. Downtown leaders in Colorado Springs, CO (est. pop. 478,215), began planning the project in 2016, and physical installations…
In a low-income area of Portland, OR, is a 29,000-square-foot strip shopping center filled with a mix of independent merchants and service providers. The tenant list includes a Latina-owned hair salon, several tax preparers, and the Somali American Association of Oregon. In similar neighborhoods, such a property would be owned by a well-heeled landlord who…
The Hollywood Partnership is a nonprofit business improvement district that provides a variety of services to businesses along the famous Hollywood Boulevard. In 2022, the BID took a creative step: It launched Hollywood Partnership Ventures, a 501(c)(3) organization doing business as Hollywood Partnership Community Trust. The Community Trust spinoff was a response to financial reality…
Billboard welcomes workers downtown When Promedica, a nonprofit healthcare system, moved its corporate office to downtown Toledo, OH, in 2017 the management team wanted to be sure that everyone felt welcome in the new location. One part of the welcome campaign came in the form of a strategically placed digital billboard. The words, “Promedica Welcomes…
Outdoor artisan markets are gaining momentum in downtowns nationally, for a good reason. These events forge community connections and boost local economic development. The most dynamic and interactive markets serve as creative placemakers, says brand strategist Tracy Gravante, co-founder of Main Street Pops. A twist on farmers markets, artisan markets attract both local residents and…
For many downtowns, feet on the street are a crucial factor, a variable that determines the viability of everything from stores and restaurants to cultural attractions to public transit. There’s good news on that front, according to newly released data from the 2020 census. U.S. population density increased in the past decade after falling in…