For nearly a decade, Gallup, NM (est. pop. 21,333), has been building an arts district. Now those efforts are being rewarded with solid results. Gallup’s ArtsCrawl events once drew hundreds; now thousands come out. Downtown vacancy rates are down, investment is up. And Gallup’s Coal Avenue Commons project won a Placemaking Award from the New…To read more — login/subscribe
Across the U.S., a small but growing number of cities is targeting a familiar symbol of suburban sprawl: the drive-through lane. Once considered a standard amenity for fast-food restaurants, banks, and pharmacies, drive-throughs are increasingly seen as obstacles to walkable downtowns, safer streets, and climate goals. In response, some municipalities now prohibit or limit new…To read more — login/subscribe
Developers look to transform a vacant mill in downtownLewiston, ME, into an AI data center. Ever wonder what happens when you type a query into ChatGPT or another artificial intelligence platform? Turns out the cloud inevitably lands on terra firma at some point — AI is an industry that requires both massive data centers and…To read more — login/subscribe
At first glance, Downtown San Diego seems to be a thriving place. Its waterfront convention center and major hotels host a steady stream of conferences. The San Diego Padres’ ballpark is considered a model for downtown activation through professional sports. Residential construction is booming. But take a stroll through other parts of downtown, and the…To read more — login/subscribe
Rooftop mini-pitch in Queens, NY. Through its four-year-old Hometown Grants program, T-Mobile has funded more than 450 projects costing some $20 million. Its latest round of grants, announced in December, includes funding for a soccer facility in Moline, IL (est. pop. 42,235). Moline will use a $50,000 grant to install a mini-pitch soccer system at…To read more — login/subscribe
As e-bikes explode in popularity and as more downtowns embrace cycling safety, transportation officials are improving bike networks nationwide. Cities are planning high-quality bikeways that rely on more than paint to protect their users. The timely release of the third edition of NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide provides a blueprint for implementing safe, connected, and…To read more — login/subscribe
Spring is on the way, and it’s time to celebrate — with flowers. Across North America, spring blooms take center stage at a wide range of events that draw visitors and locals alike. There’s everything from large-scale seasonal festivals (like tulip or cherry blossom festivals) and competitive flower shows (like the Philadelphia Flower Show), to…To read more — login/subscribe
Businesses couple-up for Valentine’s Day To mark Valentine’s Day and promote downtown shopping, the Greater Easton Development Partnership’s Main Street Initiative, launched Match Made in Easton. The 10-day program has downtown businesses coupling-up to offer unique deals and promotions to customers who present receipts from their partner shops. For example, a customer at Yellow Balloon…To read more — login/subscribe
