Downtown Idea Exchange

Each month downtown leaders turn to Downtown Idea Exchange for practical news reports, how-to information, and hundreds of real-world examples of how downtowns are growing and prospering.

 


“Shoppertainment” can help downtown merchants drive traffic

May 1, 2021
As downtown merchants recover from the pandemic, they need to rethink how they lure customers. That’s according to Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, founder of Retail Minded. She says retailers and downtown leaders will need to find ways to bring customers back to physical storefronts. “Whether we like it or not, consumers have gotten way too comfortable…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Most mayors expect pedestrian-friendly changes to prove temporary

May 1, 2021
Pedestrain friendly Reallocating Street Space During the Pandemic Many cities have responded to the COVID-19 crisis by creating more space for people outside. Which of the following, if any, have you implemented in your community? Do you anticipate any of these changes becoming permanent? Source: Urban Parks and the Public Realm: Equity & Access in Post-COVID Cities…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Investment in struggling commercial corridors “fiercely place-based”

May 1, 2021
Chicago’s downtown district and its North Side are thriving, but its South and West sides continue to struggle. In response, Mayor Lori Lightfoot kicked off Invest South/West, a three-year plan that seeks to invest $750 million in dormant and struggling retail areas in 10 neighborhoods, including Austin, Auburn Gresham, New City, and Bronzeville. The city’s…To read more — login/subscribe