Instead of tearing down a vacant building for parking, this downtown scores a redevelopment win. A 1905 building in downtown Ripon, WI (est. pop. 7,772), was set to be torn down and replaced with a parking lot. The historic space had been empty for years, and the building was problematic because of a mold infestation…To read more — login/subscribe
A 90-foot mural spans the library’s facade in downtown Worcester, MA. In Worcester, MA (est. pop. 211,289), public art installations have reshaped downtown. One example is hard to miss — it’s a massive mural decorating the library building. The others are much smaller — they’re colorful additions to Worcester’s stormwater drainage system. They urge residents…To read more — login/subscribe
A decade ago, downtown Wytheville, VA (est. pop. 8,202), was struggling. Vacancies were 42 percent in 2014. However, Wytheville has embarked on a remarkable turnaround. Vacancy is just 4 percent now, and the town was named one of the nation’s three Great American Main Street Awards honorees for 2026. “Downtown Wytheville exemplifies the power of…To read more — login/subscribe
Overhead sculpture defines activated space. Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) placemaking projects are low-cost, short-term, and often temporary installations that can quickly improve a space before investing in permanent solutions. The term, coined over 40 years ago, continues to influence downtown development with projects ranging from quick low-cost approaches to pedestrian safety to creating green gathering…To read more — login/subscribe
The RedBall Project in Toronto. Public art goes big for maximum impact The RedBall Project is scheduled to visit the streets of downtown Dallas, TX, in June. The inflatable red ball will move through the city center with official locations announced on the art installation’s Instagram account. The ball is often found in iconic locations…To read more — login/subscribe
Culpeper, VA (est. pop. 20,794), is about to embark on its fifth annual edition of a unique event aimed at engaging residents and visitors, deepening relationships with downtown merchants, and supporting Culpeper County’s shop-local initiative. Be A Culpeper Local Week has grown not just in spending but also in days on the calendar — it’s…To read more — login/subscribe
In Montpelier, VT (est. pop. 8,014), downtown is recovering from a natural disaster that struck more than two years ago. One linchpin of the rebound is the illumination of 10 downtown bridges over the river that inundated the city. The effort is part of the capital city’s recovery project after the 2023 flood, and it…To read more — login/subscribe
The Monmouth Independence Trolley, known as MI Trolley, began operations in 2023. The service connects the Oregon cities of Monmouth (est. pop. 11,428) and Independence (est. pop. 38,532). “A group of local leaders decided Monmouth and Independence needed a more accessible, reliable, and fun way of getting back and forth between the two cities, whose…To read more — login/subscribe
