Amid a wave of mass shootings nationally, downtowns have been the locations of a number of unfortunate incidents. On New Year’s Eve 2022, one person was killed and nine were injured during a mass shooting during a concert in downtown Mobile, AL. Earlier in the year, seven people were injured in a shooting in downtown…To read more — login/subscribe
Art carts showcase artists’ work, enliven downtown Art on the Town was created to help artists in Lexington, KY, show and sell their work. The program features eight mobile carts that are available seven days a week at no cost to artists. “The carts are mobile and can move around within several block areas of…To read more — login/subscribe
When it comes to business signage, many commercial areas are a free-for-all of ads of all shapes, sizes, and colors. If your downtown could be described as an “ugly, cluttered, sign-overloaded district,” it’s time to clean up, says Ed McMahon, chairman emeritus of Main Street America and a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute.…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown leaders in West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 117,253), plan to unveil an unusual public art project in March. Dubbed Trojan Rocking Horses, the installation consists of eight life-sized rocking horses, each custom-designed by local children during design workshops. The horses were then produced locally under the guidance of a Finnish artist and architect.…To read more — login/subscribe
Outdoor artisan markets are gaining momentum in downtowns nationally, for a good reason. These events forge community connections and boost local economic development. The most dynamic and interactive markets serve as creative placemakers, says brand strategist Tracy Gravante, co-founder of Main Street Pops. A twist on farmers markets, artisan markets attract both local residents and…To read more — login/subscribe
Even before the pandemic, owners of aging office buildings were struggling to lure tenants and bolster rental rates. When the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a glut of office space and a shortage of housing, that trend accelerated. Now, downtowns across the country are seeing older office buildings convert to residential space — a welcome trend for…To read more — login/subscribe
Electric bicycle sales and shared e-bike rentals are on the rise around the country — Leaving transportation officials and policymakers struggling to keep up with the sudden popularity of a new form of transit that wasn’t envisioned when streets were designed and built. In one example of the boom, shared e-bike trips nearly doubled from…To read more — login/subscribe
The nationwide housing shortage has spurred many downtowns to remove parking minimums. It’s a shift that encourages development by reducing the costs of new housing while also promising to make communities more pedestrian-friendly. California recently abolished minimum parking requirements for new real estate development projects near public transit. La Mesa, CA (est. pop. 61,040), is…To read more — login/subscribe
In a trend that continues to vex downtown leaders and landlords, many office workers have shifted to working from home, either full time or a few days a week. “Even now, 42 percent of workers work from home full-time. Others only go in a few days a week,” Vanessa Quijano, director of communication for NJ…To read more — login/subscribe
