Biden administration unveils plan for office-to-residential conversions
December 1, 2023
President Joe Biden has unveiled a policy designed to spur conversions of empty commercial buildings to residential use. The plan calls for public financing of office-to-residential projects, the sale of some federal properties, and targeted tax incentives. “Office and commercial vacancies across the country are affecting urban downtowns and rural main streets,” the White House…To read more — login/subscribe
The holidays are here again — and for many downtown leaders, that means it’s time to think about how to wrest some holiday spending from Amazon and suburban shopping malls. Locally branded gift cards have emerged as a popular way to spur local spending while also tapping into civic pride. For downtowns that have embraced…
Closed streets draw visitors The Open Streets program returned to Salt Lake City, UT, with new fall dates this year. The special fall edition ran from September 15 through October 28, every Friday and Saturday from noon to 1 a.m. During that time, a central portion of Main Street was closed to automobile traffic to…
In Lethbridge, Alberta (est. pop. 106,000), downtown leaders are keeping streets clean and engaging the city’s unhoused population. The Clean Sweep Program pays homeless people $15 an hour to perform clean and safe work. Their tasks include trash pickup, snow removal, and disposing of needles, pipes, and other paraphernalia from downtown’s designated area for drug…
A “pawp-up” park for dogs downtown. A basketball court in a formerly unused underpass. Wayfinding signage scrawled on sidewalks with chalk. Painted pianos in public parks. Not every downtown attraction initiative needs to be a major undertaking. There’s a real role for small, inexpensive projects. Errin Welty, senior downtown development director at the Wisconsin Economic…
The post-pandemic performance of the nation’s city centers continues to be a mixed bag. On the downside, downtowns are facing well-documented problems. Office space remains underused, and office-serving merchants are struggling. At the same time, city centers bear the brunt of homelessness. But downtowns are also proving remarkably resilient. They have begun to recover dramatically…
Cities nationally are embracing a low-cost way to boost traffic safety and reduce pedestrian fatalities: They’re installing street murals. Compared to installing roundabouts or narrowing streets, asphalt art is a quick and inexpensive way to slow cars and make motorists more aware of their surroundings. Fast Company magazine labeled the concept a “ridiculously simple” way…
This year, Small Business Saturday — a crucial event for downtowns vying with suburban retail destinations — is scheduled for November 25. The event provides an opportunity for downtown leaders to foster community engagement, and for independent businesses to shine. But moving foot traffic and dollars from big box stores and online retailers takes focused…
When Antioch, IL (est. pop. 14,705), wanted to breathe new life into its downtown, the small city hired All Together, a Chicago-based marketing firm. All Together worked with Antioch to highlight the town’s unique history. In one initiative, All Together added “ghost signs” to half a dozen longtime businesses. In another initiative, the marketing company…
