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
Butterfly bench in downtown Lebanon, IN. The National Association of Realtors Placemaking Grants fund state and local realtor association-led projects. The goal of the program is to enable realtors to strengthen ties with their community, to develop relationships with public officials, and to spur economic growth and development. The association offers up to $7,500 for…To read more — login/subscribe
Vinyl banners suggest potential uses for vacant space. What could this store become? Vacant storefronts are getting a makeover with the Downtown Tucson [AZ] Partnership’s Storefront Vinyl Program. The program features professionally designed vinyl banners displaying everything from eye-catching artwork, to information on available commercial space, to a vision for future uses. Since launching in…To read more — login/subscribe
In Columbus, GA (est. pop. 202,616), the city’s greatest natural asset had been turned into an eyesore. In the 1800s, textile mills dammed the Chattahoochee River as a power source. A century and a half later, the textile industry was long gone — and the river languished as an industrial wasteland. But downtown leaders, including…To read more — login/subscribe
In Gastonia, NC (est. pop. 82,666), and Wilson, NC (est. pop. 47,767), city officials grew frustrated by the lack of passengers on their public bus networks. Ridership was light, causing the systems to dial back service. In both cities, a dearth of riders created a self-perpetuating cycle — because buses were empty, transit officials scaled…To read more — login/subscribe
