Downtown Idea Exchange

Community foundations play a key role in identifying and solving local problems. They are grantmaking public charities that are dedicated to improving conditions in a defined geographic area. They bring together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits in their communities.  When the goals of downtown organizations and foundations align,…To read more — login/subscribe

 

New LED streetlight program The city of Ann Arbor, MI, is embarking on an ambitious LED streetlight program aimed at reducing lighting costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative, which has already shown promising results, is significantly supported by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA).  The program began with a successful pilot project which…To read more — login/subscribe

 

• Downtown reimagines pedestrian mall with new design, new name
• Beleaguered city expands safety patrols
• Downtown aims to attract young workers — by sprucing up streetscapes
• World Cup prompts revamp of downtown walkways
• Tree planting: big plans and small steps
• Community foundations share downtown goals
• Idea Exchange

To read more — login/sign up

During the pandemic, Seattle’s downtown leaders fretted that media coverage about the district often focused on closed businesses, empty streets, and other reflections of a lagging recovery. The Downtown Seattle Association decided to push back by taking matters into its own hands: Downtown leaders created their own podcast. The twice-monthly Seattle City Makers Podcast presents…To read more — login/subscribe

 

e-bikes, scooters, and more share bike lanes. Bike lanes aren’t just for bikes any more, a reality that’s creating congestion for now — but the conflict could spur a reshaping of downtown streetscapes. “The bike lane is set to become a very crowded place,” Dan Piatkowski wrote in a recent column for US News and…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Boston’s Spite House Downtowns have experienced a dramatic renaissance in recent years. But many still struggle with unused and underused spaces, ranging from abandoned manufacturing facilities to obsolete warehouses to vacant lots. Filling in the gaps isn’t easy. In fact, downtown leaders often need to figure out ways to encourage developers to invest in infill…To read more — login/subscribe

 

A proposed federal law would encourage development on vacant properties in the nation’s downtowns. While the measure has bipartisan sponsorship and industry support, it hasn’t been fast-tracked by a deeply divided Congress in a presidential election year. The Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act would: • Create a 20 percent tax credit for expenses incurred…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza. A pedestrian plaza in Jersey City, NJ (est. pop. 286,661), has been racking up awards for placemaking. Jersey City’s Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza won Downtown New Jersey’s award for Built Project Excellence for a Transformational Initiative. The $7 million initiative also won Municipal Project of the Year from the New Jersey…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Downtowns from Seattle to Paris, TX, have been experimenting with back-in parking as a way to improve safety. In Fort Collins, CO (est. pop. 169,248), the city has been encouraging the practice in parts of downtown since 2020. When Fort Collins debuted back-in angle parking, it touted the benefits over traditional parallel parking and front-in…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Map shows all 16 contestants in the Chicken Sandwich Snackdown.  Restaurants and culinary experiences can be valuable assets to a downtown. They serve downtown workers and residents as well as attracting visitors to the city center — Serving both an economic and a social role in the community. From the smallest city to the largest…To read more — login/subscribe