As Americans become more focused on fitness and the environment, commuters, as well as recreationalists, are learning the value of pedal power. As a result, projects to boost bike-centric amenities in city centers are flourishing. This month Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter looks at bike share programs, making way for bikes on city-center streets, and facilities for…Continue reading
Doing a complete overhaul of downtown signage can be a lengthy-but-worthwhile process, as has been the case in Knoxville, TN. The city started gathering public input for its comprehensive wayfinding program in 2009, and hopes to see the project completed this year. “Our wayfinding program was really intended to do three things,” says Anne Wallace,…Continue reading
Ambitious projects to revitalize underutilized green space in Charlotte, NC, are improving the quality of life for residents and downtown employees while also showcasing all that the city has to offer, and providing vital connections that bring more people downtown. The Little Sugar Creek Greenway project included restoration of an urban stream and creation of…Continue reading
A new business recruitment campaign in Providence, RI, is reaching out not only to business owners and top executives, but to their employees. The Bring Your Company to Life campaign encourages employees to “start a movement” or “bribe your boss” in order to move a job they love to a place they can love equally.…Continue reading
A new initiative in Gardiner, ME, is encouraging businesses with a proven track record in other communities to open new downtown locations. Two years of planning and consideration went into the program design, which is being hailed as, “a model for redevelopment efforts” statewide. Businesses accepted into the program are eligible for a number of…Continue reading
Dance, yoga, CrossFit, and more are enlivening public spaces in downtowns across North America. In one example, the Waterfront Partnership in Baltimore, MD, offers a Waterfront Wellness Series on weekend mornings from late May through late September, which includes free yoga, boot camp, CrossFit, and Zumba. “I think a lot of us have gym memberships,…Continue reading
In May, Philadelphia, PA, attempted to break the world record for the most people on a pub crawl. While the team at Guinness World Records tallied the attendance figures, Downtown Promotion Reporter looked at downtowns that drew record crowds with their own events. Livermore Downtown Inc. in Livermore, CA, organized a dance flash mob. The…Continue reading
The Site Seeker program in Dayton, OH, allows the Downtown Dayton Partnership to provide a valuable service to members while also attracting new businesses to the city center. Tenants interested in moving downtown fill out an online form which asks how much square footage the business seeks, whether the owner wants to lease or buy…Continue reading
Making lighter, quicker, cheaper improvements can mean something as simple as providing seats in public spaces. For example, when the public library in Wallkill, NY, wanted to activate green space around the building, it installed colorful lawn chairs along with signs inviting people to relax. “This effort changed the look and feel of the library…Continue reading
The Better Block project got its start in Dallas when a group of community organizers, neighbors, and property owners partnered to revitalize a single commercial block for a weekend. Since that time, Better Block projects have spread around the world. These volunteer-based projects, often referred to as “living charettes” or even “Extreme Home Makeover for…Continue reading
