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Activating Unique Spaces Downtown

May 15, 2025
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

 

Small but Mighty Public Consumption Zone

May 2, 2025
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

 

Downtowns Find Success Transitioning From Large Events to Smaller Ones

April 3, 2025
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

 

BID Encourages Crime Prevention with CPTED

March 20, 2025
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

 

Bollards: Improving Function with Art

March 6, 2025
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