Downtown Idea Exchange

With pedestrian fatalities stubbornly holding at historically high levels, safety advocates are pushing for new policies that make it less hazardous to walk or cycle in U.S. cities. Some 1,700 municipalities have adopted Complete Streets initiatives, according to Smart Growth America, a nonprofit focused on transportation policy. The Complete Streets approach urges construction of streets…To read more — login/subscribe

 

In Wedgewood-Houston, galleries and light manufacturing often exist side-by-side. As urban districts embrace small-scale manufacturing, cities are beginning to adopt artisan zoning as a land use strategy and economic development tool. Small-scale manufacturers can pick up some of the slack left by the factory jobs of yesteryear, while providing little of the disruption of traditional…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Troubled Monument Square in Portland, ME. With safety complaints increasing in Portland, ME (est. pop. 69,104), Downtown Portland launched a Downtown Ambassadors program this summer. The safety workers will focus on removing trash, removing graffiti, and picking up needles.  “Portland Downtown is taking action to maintain our vibrant downtown district,” Cary Tyson, executive director of…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Over the past decade, Rockford, IL (est. pop. 147,649), has cultivated public art. The Rockford Public Art Trail features more than 100 pieces throughout Winnebago County.  All of the art is listed in a mobile passport which lets visitors learn about the artists and the stories behind each piece. “Rockford has both a high quality…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Weekly farmers market in Madison, WI. Large festivals may attract massive crowds, but they tend to be concentrated in short bursts. The big annual event might let downtown shine for one weekend, but what happens when the event is over? Smaller, recurring events address this challenge by providing reasons for visitors to return downtown week…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Community gathering space opens After a decade of work, a new community gathering space opened this summer in downtown Lee’s Summit, MO. The nearly 3-acre Green Street project features a lawn with shade canopies, public art installations, movable seating, an accessible playground, and an indoor farmer’s market that doubles as an event space when not…To read more — login/subscribe

 

• How three cities are using Complete Streets to improve pedestrian safety
• Artisan zoning districts drive redevelopment
• Beset by safety issues, downtown launches ambassador program
• Public art project creates ‘outdoor museum’
• Downtowns use recurring events to drive traffic
• Idea Exchange

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Participants consider the options for public art.  Aspen, CO (est. pop. 6,862), is famous for its ski slopes and its high-priced real estate. Now, the small city is trying to make a mark as a hub of public art. This year the city launched Aspen Public Art, an initiative designed to enliven public spaces with…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Residents work to slow traffic in their neighborhoods. Tactical urbanism was once an edgy concept. It called for urban guerillas to ignore the usual bureaucracy and take matters into their own hands with pop-up attractions and hastily installed public art. Turns out the idea was so good that major cities are making tactical urbanism part…To read more — login/subscribe

 

In most downtowns, crime prevention efforts focus on such things as a visible police presence, private security patrols, and graffiti clean-up crews. But a number of cities are turning to a solution known as crime prevention through environmental design, or CPTED. In contrast to traditional hardening measures, CPTED focuses instead on visually pleasing solutions that…To read more — login/subscribe