Like many U.S. cities, San Francisco was hit hard by the pandemic. A city program to offer free rent to merchants is bringing back some activity — and luring some wary merchants who ultimately sign long-term leases. Vacant to Vibrant was launched last year by Mayor London Breed to fill empty space downtown, the area…To read more — login/subscribe
It’s a familiar problem in downtowns throughout the U.S. — Large delivery trucks block traffic as the driver stops at the curb to drop off a single small package. In an attempt to address the congestion caused by package deliveries, some cities are experimenting with bicycles to get online orders to their final destination. One…To read more — login/subscribe
Bike share, e-scooters, and other micromobility vehicles are growing in popularity across North America — fully 157 million trips were recorded in the U.S. and Canada in 2023, according to a new analysis by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). NACTO’s Shared Micromobility in the U.S. and Canada: 2023 report finds record-breaking ridership…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown festivals can provide lasting economic, social, and cultural benefits. But hosting a successful event, and avoiding common pitfalls, takes expert preparation and execution. Writing on the Downtown New Jersey website, Jason Gleason, executive director of Montclair Center Business Improvement District, offers his eight rules for event success. 1. Establish clear goals. Before launching into…To read more — login/subscribe
In Champaign, IL (est. pop. 89,245), reducing minimum parking requirements (MPRs) has spurred development and boosted the density of both downtown Champaign and the urban district anchored by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That’s according to a paper by University of Illinois researchers Bumsoo Lee and Srirang Sohoni. Their findings were published in the…To read more — login/subscribe
In Miami, FL (est. pop. 449,484), downtown has transformed in recent decades. Through the 1990s, the city center was mostly a 9-to-5 district — workers commuted in from the suburbs, then left. But that has changed in a big way. Downtown Miami now has 150,000 residents, along with supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and even a bowling…To read more — login/subscribe
After state lawmakers last year passed guidelines for municipalities to allow outdoor consumption of alcohol, a number of cities in Indiana enacted new rules and established Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas or DORAs. The DORAs include a defined area where visitors over 21 can drink alcohol. As in other states, the drinks must be sold by…To read more — login/subscribe
In Winnipeg, MB (est. pop. 750,000), downtown cleanups are a community effort. This year, nearly 700 people turned out for the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s Downtown Spring CleanUp. “This annual event is more than just picking up litter, it is an opportunity to come together as a diverse and vibrant group of community members, business…To read more — login/subscribe
Parking garages take on new life In an effort to encourage owners of parking garages to activate their spaces during down times, the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative created a pop-up rooftop performance venue at a downtown parking garage. “We were hoping owners would see that garages could be put to really good use during the…To read more — login/subscribe
