Downtown Idea Exchange

Turn-key inflatables When it comes to radically changing the downtown streetscape, it doesn’t get much lighter, quicker, or cheaper than temporary installations of inflatables. Turn-key event producers offer giant waterslides, obstacle courses, and even public art installations. In February, Osuna Park in Peoria, AZ, welcomed the illuminated and inflatable “Light at Play: An Interactive Art…To read more — login/subscribe

 

• Three cities are bucking post-pandemic trends
• Overcoming common problems with electric scooters
• Retaining and nurturing “legacy” businesses
• Cities invest in urban tree canopies, share knowledge
• Transitioning outdoor dining programs from temporary to permanent
• Reshaping streets for people
• City buys downtown office building for residential conversion
• Idea Exchange: Quick Tips and News from Around the Country

To read more — login/sign up

Before the pandemic, Minneapolis, MN (est. pop. 425,338), enjoyed a reputation as a rare economic boomtown in the Upper Midwest. Unlike Detroit, Cleveland, and Milwaukee, Minneapolis was experiencing a strong housing market and robust job gains. Then came the infamous May 2020 death of a Black man at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer,…To read more — login/subscribe

 

The summer kicked off with record-breaking heat across much of the U.S. In the Southwest and Southeast, the “feels-like” temperatures soared well above 100 degrees in July. For downtown leaders, the oppressive temperatures complicated plans for outdoor events — and they served as a reminder that cities need to start planning for intense heat. While…To read more — login/subscribe

 

In Peoria, IL (est. pop. 110,915), the city is about to install 72 new wayfinding signs downtown. The total price tag will be $833,000, amounting to nearly $12,000 a sign. The city council signed off on the investment in June — with assurances that the new generation of wayfinding signs is far more advanced than…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Office conversions are having a moment — the topic is the subject of news stories, webinars, and conference sessions. With office space experiencing heightened levels of vacancy and housing units very much in demand, the concept of repurposing underused office space to in-demand residential space is a compelling one. But an office-to-residential conversion is not…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Reading, PA (est. pop. 94,834), hopes a big investment in electric vehicle charging stations can give its downtown a reboot. Downtown leaders in Hamilton, MT (est. pop. 4,632), see an EV charging station as a way to generate visits. The EV boom is in full swing, and downtowns across the country are trying to use…To read more — login/subscribe

 

For three weeks in July, Paris, TX (est. pop. 24,447), tested back-in angled parking in part of its downtown. The test run was designed to teach motorists about the benefits of back-in parking — and to see whether drivers would embrace the shift. The Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, which patrols Paris, took the lead in…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Restaurants and other eateries can make a strong contribution to a downtown’s success. These critical assets attract and serve downtown residents, workers, visitors, and even culinary travelers.  Downtown leaders have many opportunities to work with the restaurant community to promote downtown and ensure the success of these small businesses. Here are eight ways downtown leaders…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Downtown leaders in West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 117,253), have launched an effort to ease the daily traffic crunch by giving drivers more alternatives.  The West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition, or WPBgo, is a nonprofit that seeks to reduce traffic and improve mobility in and around downtown. The group’s director, Jonathan Hopkins, previously ran…To read more — login/subscribe