Resources for revitalizing downtowns,
BIDS, main street communities and others
Downtown Digest News • Web Extras
April 12, 2018 — The Rochester Downtown Alliance (RDA) has offered its Start-Up Grant program since 2013 to encourage first-time events in Rochester, MN. Initially, the program offered up to $1,000 to applicants hosting first-time events downtown. "Five years later, the RDA is now able to offer up to $3,000 for approved events," says Karli…To read more — login/sign up
March 29, 2018 — The city of Houghton, MI, is determined to meet two goals each winter: keeping walkways clear and comfortable, and creating as many fun, outdoor events as possible. "We try to keep things walkable for folks," says City Manager Eric Waara. And, in addition to plowing the streets, the city provides outdoor…To read more — login/sign up
March 15, 2018 — The two-block retail corridor in downtown Kirkland, WA, has been redeveloped as an award winning American "woonerf," a Dutch word that translates loosely as "living street." The plaza-like lane is now a pedestrian-friendly gathering space, while remaining open to vehicles, as well. The transformation did not happen overnight. The 2008-2013…To read more — login/sign up
Listening, encouraging, and creating connections helps launch more entrepreneurial projects — Uptown Works, a cowork space, will be located in the historic World’s Attic building in the heart of downtown Somerset, PA. Watch the Uptown Works Introduction video below. ...
Repurposed shipping containers offer flexible, affordable space downtown — Shipping containers are providing retail and residential space downtown and creating an attention-grabbing alternative to more traditional development. Container Park, in Las Vegas, NV, is perhaps one of the most ambitious of these projects. Read an archive article about Container Park. ...
Active Frontages encourage lively streets — The Town of Milton, ON, Canada, is taking steps to create a more bustling, pedestrian-oriented experience downtown. See recent amendments to the town’s strategic plan. ...
Gee wiz parking technology — Read a Parking Today article about the Westfield Century City parking system in Los Angeles....
March 2, 2018 — White Box programs are proving effective at driving redevelopment in city centers and getting hard to fill spaces rented. The programs typically help fund improvements to heating/cooling systems, lighting, electrical systems, bathrooms, and finished (but not yet painted) ceilings and floors. Improvements that are meant to make older buildings habitable…To read more — login/sign up
February 16, 2018 — Tasting rooms and events featuring local wineries and craft breweries have proved popular downtown. Now cities are finding distilleries are equally suited to the city center. The February issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter highlights three distilleries that are contributing to historic preservation and attracting visitors and locals alike. In one example, the…To read more — login/sign up
Tongue-in-cheek marketing touts downtown’s live, work, play assets — A series of humorous videos produced by the Chamber of Commerce in Chattanooga, TN, allow the city to boast about its high-speed Internet, strong job market, quality of life, and more. See them below. ...
A proven White Box model — White Box programs are becoming increasingly popular as they prove effective at driving redevelopment in city centers nationwide. Read the Milwaukee Choice Neighborhood Critical Community Improvements Plan. The White Box Grant guidelines are on page 27. ...
Revitalization project yields flexible walk/bike/drive/event space — The two-block retail corridor in downtown Kirkland, WA, was becoming less walkable as tree roots buckled sidewalk panels, creating unsightly tripping hazards. Thanks to an ambitious renovation project, Park Lane is now a pedestrian-friendly gathering space, while remaining open to vehicles, as well. Watch a video about the project below. ...
February 1, 2018 — A dedicated downtown app for Apple and Android smartphones is helping consumers find new destinations and parking in Millburn, NJ, and allowing merchants to attract new customers. Users can browse by category, such as "Fine Dining," or search by keywords to find products, services, and special offers. The app has "beacon…To read more — login/sign up
January 18, 2018 — The Full Forward Business Competition in Florence, SC, is attracting successful business owners to open a second location or a new venture in the city’s downtown. The contest, which launched in May, was publicized heavily via social media, along with mailings to business owners statewide. One winning entry received $20,000 in…To read more — login/sign up
Welcoming seniors and encore businesses downtown — A growing number of ‘encore entrepreneurs’ are seeking to launch income-generating ventures that make a positive difference in their communities,” says a recent report from Encore.org. Read the Encore Entrepreneurship and the Built Environment’s Executive Summary. ...
Tax breaks for development on vacant lots — Lynchburg, VA, is considering tax incentives for new development in select areas of the city, including downtown. See the full Incentive Plan for In-Fill Development. ...
Senior-friendly open spaces — A report from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs recommends guidelines for senior-friendly open spaces. ...
Linking downtown’s parks — The city of Bentonville, AK, is re-imagining its downtown open spaces to create a “Quilt of Parks,” each with a slightly different purpose. Download the report here....
January 5, 2018 — Every other week we post a brief article from Downtown Idea Exchange. Over the course of the year we’ve covered everything from business recruitment to streetscape improvements to festivals and events. To wrap up the year, we’re highlighting five of our favorite posts. Creative, informative, and adaptable, they showcase some of the…To read more — login/sign up
December 14, 2017 — Downtown Lynn, MA, is seeing a huge investment in revitalization via the arts. Recently, the 10-day Beyond Walls mural festival changed the face of downtown, and attracted more than 2,700 visitors to the festival’s grand finale. Beyond Walls founder Alfred Wilson says he is inspired by art-centric revitalization in cities like…To read more — login/sign up