When downtown residents are asked what they most want to see added to the business mix, a grocery store often tops the list. Post-recession economics may reduce the likelihood of chain grocers opening in downtown locations, but have instead spurred a new crop of grocery store co-ops. The June issue of Downtown Idea Exchange looks…Continue reading
Guerilla placemaking initiatives are often low-cost, yet create a high-impact and unexpected vibrancy downtown with minimal municipal input. One example featured in the May issue of Downtown Promotion Reporter newsletter is the Eye Love You project, which, “connects people with people, and people with places.” The movement began in New Zealand, but has gone global.…Continue reading
Attracting retail to the city center is easier with staff dedicated to that mission. In York, PA, a creative funding solution has allowed Downtown Inc. to hire a recruitment specialist, and retailers are moving downtown. “We are a 28-year-old Main Street organization and BID so we are sort of a hybrid, which affords us a…Continue reading
As more people embrace the urban lifestyle, pets are moving to city centers with their owners. That trend has increased the demand for downtown dog parks, which in turn, attract more pet-loving residents and visitors, creating a cycle of revitalization that benefits people, pooches, and businesses. Increasingly, communities are realizing that being people- friendly means…Continue reading
Knowing the market potential, offering incentives, creating appropriate zoning, and facilitating connections between the city, developers, and potential residents all play a role in creating more housing in downtown Ithaca, NY. “There are three major things we’ve done to stimulate development of residential,” says Gary Ferguson, executive director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. “We’ve worked…Continue reading
A week-long celebration of fashion in Philadelphia, PA, is promoted with Random Acts of Fashion, which take place on city streets and on social-media platforms. The creative promotions includes: Ambush makeovers for four individuals in the weeks leading up to fashion week. The makeover winners are “revealed” on the local morning talk show.Remote Red Carpet,…Continue reading
By securing the right space and offering a creative mix of programs, events, and office amenities, the Alliance for Downtown New York shows the way to draw entrepreneurs downtown. Co-working spaces, which provide access to office equipment, support, and networking opportunities, were a relatively new concept in the city when the Hive at 55 opened.…Continue reading
In an effort to highlight downtown heritage, add visual interest, educate people about the community’s history, and draw visitors downtown, Chillicothe, MO, embarked on a mural program “Work on the murals started in the mid-1990s,” says Crystal Narr, director of Main Street Chillicothe. There are currently 17 murals and two “ghost signs,” which are business…Continue reading
When the Pasadena Playhouse District Association decided to embrace public art, the resulting utility box covers and crosswalk paintings were created with an eye toward aesthetics and practicality. It’s an approach that can work in any community. The utility box covers are done with vinyl wraps so that, “if graffiti or something else happens and…Continue reading
Creating events that will appeal to women, and hosting them at times when women are most likely to attend, is a great way to highlight downtown’s assets to a demographic that might otherwise never explore the city center. In San Jose, CA, a new “HER city” after-work social series launched in August is successfully attracting…Continue reading
