Waterloo, IA (est. pop. 66,934), launched an electric scooter program in 2021, and the roll-out has been generally smooth, says Jessica Rucker, executive director of Main Street Waterloo. “There are fears about these programs, but it has gone very well,” Rucker says. Cities throughout the country have experienced the downsides of scooter sharing. St. Louis…To read more — login/subscribe
It’s natural for downtown leaders to celebrate new businesses. But experienced economic developers say you shouldn’t forget the businesses that have been downtown for years. These businesses embody the community’s character, create unique experiences, and serve as inspiration for other business owners. That’s the motivation behind a new wave of “legacy” business programs aimed at…To read more — login/subscribe
As record temperatures gripped the globe this summer, downtown leaders increasingly looked to tree canopies as a way to lower the mercury. From Seattle to Palm Beach, FL, there is agreement that urban areas need more trees to alleviate the impacts of climate change. While urban landscaping was once valued primarily for its aesthetic appeal,…To read more — login/subscribe
During the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor dining and open street initiatives were a savior for downtowns devoid of traffic. Three years later, downtown leaders are grappling with tough questions about benefits and pitfalls of outdoor dining on public and private property. Regulatory confusion has roiled outdoor dining programs in Los Angeles and New…To read more — login/subscribe
When the pandemic hit, many downtown leaders responded with a renewed focus on streets that are safe for walking, running, biking, and gathering. That shift from a car focus to a pedestrian focus looks different in every community, but Daniel Iacofano and Mukul Malhotra, authors of Streets Reconsidered, suggest that four important guidelines apply to…To read more — login/subscribe
Many downtown leaders have lamented two trends that hamper the vibrancy of city centers: a decline in office occupancy after the pandemic, and a lack of downtown housing. The city of Atlanta has taken steps to address both issues: This year, the city paid $39 million for a downtown office tower and plans to convert…To read more — login/subscribe
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
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
