April 2019
As downtowns embrace streetcars, an obvious question: Are they worth it? — Cities from coast to coast have installed streetcars in recent years, seeing the retro systems as a way boost downtown economies and make neighborhoods more appealing to millennials and boomers. See a report on the development impact of streetcars in Portland and Seattle.
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Beer trail, coffee trail drive traffic to downtown watering holes — Downtown leaders in Huntsville, AL, have built buzz through a simple and inexpensive promotion — the Downtown Huntsville Craft Beer Trail. Watch a promotional video about the event below. ...
Heated streets draw winter shoppers and runners — In 1988 the City of Holland, MI, implemented “the largest municipal snowmelt system in North America.” Read a brochure on the benefits of the system and watch a video below. ...
February 21, 2019 — Like many cities, Durham, NC, wants commuters to take the bus, ride their bikes, and generally find ways to get downtown other than the standard solo drive. Unlike most cities, Durham is tapping into the discipline of behavioral economics to change drivers’ behavior. The first strategy, a planning tool algorithm, creates…
February 7, 2019 — In Quincy, MA, a redevelopment boom is bearing fruit at precisely the wrong time, at least from a parking perspective. To ease the squeeze, Quincy has implemented a variety of strategies. At one city lot, Quincy more than doubled parking rates before 5 p.m. and offered free parking after 5 p.m. The city…
January 10, 2019 — A few years ago, the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz decided to eliminate big events that attracted large numbers of visitors but also blocked traffic and disrupted business. Downtown leaders in the California city still wanted to bring visitors to the business district, however, so they shifted their focus to smaller…
December 27, 2019 — Every other week we post the summary of an article from Downtown Idea Exchange. Over the course of the year we’ve covered everything from business recruitment to streetscape improvements to placemaking. To wrap up the year, we’re highlighting five of our favorite posts. Creative, informative, and adaptable, they showcase some of the…
