Downtown leaders in Philadelphia have boosted safety patrols, hosted return-to-work events, handed out free coffee at transit stations, and spruced up Center City’s sidewalk flowerbeds. “As an organization, we’ve done everything we can to reactivate,” Paul Levy, chief executive officer of Center City District, told The Wall Street Journal this summer. Even so, the city…To read more — login/subscribe
As downtowns large and small struggle with heat-island effects, an experiment with solar-reflective pavement coatings is showing promise. Last year, the City of Los Angeles chose the Pacoima neighborhood for a test of the concept. The city formed a partnership with GAF, a roofing manufacturer, to cover some 700,000 square feet of pavement with a…To read more — login/subscribe
The Rosslyn Business Improvement District in Arlington, VA (est. pop. 234,000), launched the first parklet in the Washington, DC, metro area back in 2018. Before the COVID-19 pandemic made parklets an international craze, the Rosslyn BID simply wanted to do something creative, and spur a reevaluation of how people use public space. The parklet is…To read more — login/subscribe
Ambassador program fights negative perceptions In an effort to improve safety, and the perception of safety, more ambassadors are patrolling downtown Louisville, KY. In September, Louisville Downtown Partnership doubled the number of ambassadors from 18 to 36. Ambassadors are involved in cleaning projects, regular check-ins with businesses and property owners, hospitality services, and escorting people…To read more — login/subscribe
In Salt Lake City, UT (est. pop. 200,475), an economic boom and an influx of new residents has driven activity downtown. In Fresno, CA (est. pop. 544,500), the reworking of a long-struggling pedestrian mall changed the game downtown. In Bakersfield, CA (est. pop. 407,581), a margarita contest is among the many events attracting visitors. All…To read more — login/subscribe
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
