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.

 


System of sensors and signs helps improve parking

April 1, 2021
When workers return downtown in a number of cities, they will be greeted by a range of new parking technologies. These include touchless transactions, license plate enforcement, and new approaches to managing ride-hailing services.  The City of West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 109,767), is among a growing number of cities implementing parking management technology…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Storefront art installation brings new energy to struggling downtown

April 1, 2021
In little Cherry Valley, NY (est. pop. 486), local artists have revived their tiny town’s image by brightening storefronts. As Cherry Valley resident Anne Loretto tells the New York Times, she mused about how to enliven the downtown’s desolate main drag. “I thought, ‘Look at all of this window space, all of this visibility,’” Loretto…To read more — login/subscribe

 

One more reason to go downtown: buskers

April 1, 2021
Buskers are once again filling city centers with whimsical creatures, exciting acts, and visitors who flock to see them perform. During busker festivals, national acts are often supplemented with local talent, and food, and other activities are offered to attract a broader audience. Communities seasoned in this type of event say that downtown businesses benefit,…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Downtown Idea Exchange, April 2021

April 1, 2021
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Amid national wave of migration, cities add incentives for remote workers

March 1, 2021
 The coronavirus pandemic has unleashed a new wave of migration, one that sees Americans moving out of New York, Illinois, and California and into lower-cost states such as Texas, Florida, and Arizona. Some cities are boosting their chances of attracting new residents by dangling incentives. MakeMyMove.com, which bills itself as “the first concierge service for…To read more — login/subscribe