Downtown Digest News • Web Extras
In an effort to remove parking as a barrier for downtown visitors, the village of Coconut Grove, FL, offers valet parking. While some residents complain about the loss of on-street parking, others view the service as an important amenity for the upscale downtown. The May issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter provides the mechanics of the system:…Continue reading
Downtown cemeteries and graveyards are finding new life as urban parks and entertainment venues. Despite the challenges involved in converting these spaces to more active use, there are many examples of downtown leaders making the most of every square inch of green space in the city center. Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter recently reported on two examples.…Continue reading
Buda City, TX, is using grants to encourage local business owners and event producers to market their activities to a geographically broad audience. The Downtown Co-Marketing Reimbursement Grant will pay up to 50 percent of event marketing costs up to $3,000. To qualify, events must be hosted within the Buda Main Street Program boundaries and…Continue reading
A small entertainment zone — just one block long — is changing attitudes and drawing crowds to San Francisco’s Front Street. In 2024, the Front Street District became one of the first locations in California to allow outdoor consumption of alcohol on public streets. The early results have been entirely positive, says Robbie Silver, president…Continue reading
Each fall, the City of Grand Rapids, MI, hosts ArtPrize. Over 16 days, art is exhibited in galleries, storefronts, parks, museums, and other venues. Through public and juried voting, cash prizes are awarded. With almost 800,000 people visiting downtown to view and vote on artwork, the city decided to ask them what they would like…Continue reading
Many downtown leaders have developed a love-hate relationship with dogs and their owners. On the downside, pet waste can pose a smelly nuisance and a source of constant complaints. But on the upside, dog owners help activate public spaces. After all, dogs need to be walked multiple times per day, so dog owners are out…Continue reading
Hundreds of downtown events helped turnaround a public plaza long plagued by drugs and violence. After years of trying to enforce its way to a safer UN Plaza, the City of San Francisco tried a different approach. The focus is now on attraction and activation. A centerpiece of the park’s revival is a 13,000-square-foot skating…Continue reading
In San Francisco’s Yerba Buena district, the organization once budgeted a significant sum to host splashy events. Now, the organization invests in modest events such as an art and makers market, walking tours, and bracelet-making sessions. In San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter Association once hosted a Mardi Gras festival that was the largest such event…Continue reading
The Downtown Spokane Partnership encourages members to improve downtown safety and security with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. CPTED is a crime prevention strategy that uses the design of the physical environment to minimize opportunities for crime. Some cities write CPTED guidelines into their design standards, others provide CPTED reviews for downtown business owners, and…Continue reading
Starting in May, owners of full-sized pickup trucks and extended vans will face fines for parking in the angled spots in a three-block stretch of downtown Sioux Falls, SD. In other words, Ford F-150s, Dodge Rams, and other trucks with ambitious proportions could get tickets if their tailgates or hitches block traffic in a prime…Continue reading
When the city of Midland, CA, installed safety bollards along the main street, it discovered a problem: The bollards were not visible enough to drivers. Downtown Midland BIA Board Chair Nicole French explains, "We’ve heard from business owners and visitors alike that the original metal parking bollards installed during the main street rejuvenation project are…Continue reading
Since 2017 AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) has distributed millions of dollars through its AARP Community Challenge grant program. As noted in the February issue of Downtown Idea Exchange, many familiar downtown projects are eligible for funding. In 2024 grantees included an alley transformation project in Vallejo, CA, accessibility improvements to a crosswalk…Continue reading
