For nearly a decade, Gallup, NM (est. pop. 21,333), has been building an arts district. Now those efforts are being rewarded with solid results. Gallup’s ArtsCrawl events once drew hundreds; now thousands come out. Downtown vacancy rates are down, investment is up. And Gallup’s Coal Avenue Commons project won a Placemaking Award from the New…To read more — login/subscribe
Across the U.S., a small but growing number of cities is targeting a familiar symbol of suburban sprawl: the drive-through lane. Once considered a standard amenity for fast-food restaurants, banks, and pharmacies, drive-throughs are increasingly seen as obstacles to walkable downtowns, safer streets, and climate goals. In response, some municipalities now prohibit or limit new…To read more — login/subscribe
Developers look to transform a vacant mill in downtownLewiston, ME, into an AI data center. Ever wonder what happens when you type a query into ChatGPT or another artificial intelligence platform? Turns out the cloud inevitably lands on terra firma at some point — AI is an industry that requires both massive data centers and…To read more — login/subscribe
At first glance, Downtown San Diego seems to be a thriving place. Its waterfront convention center and major hotels host a steady stream of conferences. The San Diego Padres’ ballpark is considered a model for downtown activation through professional sports. Residential construction is booming. But take a stroll through other parts of downtown, and the…To read more — login/subscribe
Rooftop mini-pitch in Queens, NY. Through its four-year-old Hometown Grants program, T-Mobile has funded more than 450 projects costing some $20 million. Its latest round of grants, announced in December, includes funding for a soccer facility in Moline, IL (est. pop. 42,235). Moline will use a $50,000 grant to install a mini-pitch soccer system at…To read more — login/subscribe
As e-bikes explode in popularity and as more downtowns embrace cycling safety, transportation officials are improving bike networks nationwide. Cities are planning high-quality bikeways that rely on more than paint to protect their users. The timely release of the third edition of NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide provides a blueprint for implementing safe, connected, and…To read more — login/subscribe
Spring is on the way, and it’s time to celebrate — with flowers. Across North America, spring blooms take center stage at a wide range of events that draw visitors and locals alike. There’s everything from large-scale seasonal festivals (like tulip or cherry blossom festivals) and competitive flower shows (like the Philadelphia Flower Show), to…To read more — login/subscribe
Businesses couple-up for Valentine’s Day To mark Valentine’s Day and promote downtown shopping, the Greater Easton Development Partnership’s Main Street Initiative, launched Match Made in Easton. The 10-day program has downtown businesses coupling-up to offer unique deals and promotions to customers who present receipts from their partner shops. For example, a customer at Yellow Balloon…To read more — login/subscribe
In Hayward, CA (est. pop. 155,672), a grant program has been helping local restaurants go viral. Known as Hashtag Hayward, the program combines placemaking with content creation by social media pros. In two rounds of awards, the Hashtag Hayward program provided grants of up to $10,000 apiece to small businesses. The money was targeted primarily…To read more — login/subscribe
